Regulations on the Weak Layer Reinforcement Subsidy for Buildings with Danger Signs Posted after the April 3, 2024 Hualien Earthquake 

Letter Tai-Nei-Guo-Zi No. 1130805465 from the Ministry of the Interior dated June 11, 2024
I. The Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the "Ministry") established these Regulations for weak layer reinforcement in buildings with danger signs posted in accordance with the Regulations for Post-Disaster Emergency Assessment of Dangerous Buildings following the April 3, 2024 Hualien Earthquake.
II. The implementation agency, subsidy items, and subsidy amount of these regulations are as follows:
(I) Implementation agency: Municipal and county (city) governments.
(II) Subsidies: Subsidy for reinforcement of weak layers with danger signs posted after the April 3 Hualien Earthquake.
(III) Subsidy amount: Subsidies for weak layer reinforcement are provided per building and limited to NT$15 million per building.
The funding required by the implementation agency will be reviewed and allocated by the Ministry based on the requirements proposal submitted by the agency.
III. The implementation agency shall submit a summary form and requirements proposal (see Attachment 1) to the Ministry for review within the time limit notified by the Ministry. Late applications will not be accepted.
IV. After the implementation agency's requirements proposal is approved by the Ministry, the method for requesting payment is as follows:
(I) The first disbursement of funding: Submit the letter approving the requirements proposal and payment request details (see Attachment 2), and 50% of the amount approved for the implementation item will be disbursed.
(II) The second disbursement of funding: After implementation of the subsidized item is completed, submit the payment request details (see Attachment 2), list of subsidies (see Attachment 3) or relevant supporting documents, and the approved amount less the remaining balance of subsidies will be disbursed.
(III) After the payment is requested and is reviewed by the Ministry and submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval, the implementation agency will submit documentation that it was included in the budget along with receipts to the Ministry of Finance to directly disburse funding to the implementation agency.
V. The weak layer reinforcement standard must meet the following requirements:
(I) For the performance points selected during structural analysis of the entire building, there is no risk of axial damage or complete loss of lateral strength of any vertical load-bearing member after reinforcement, and the risk of concentrated damage in weak layers has been reduced.
(II) With regard to structural seismic resistance performance of the entire building, ground acceleration after reinforcement must be greater than ground acceleration before reinforcement, and shall not be less than 0.8 times the design target ground acceleration.
VI. Houses that apply for weak layer reinforcement subsidies shall conduct an emergency assessment of the risk of danger in accordance with Article 6 of the Regulations for Post-Disaster Emergency Assessment of Dangerous Buildings, and put up danger signs at the main entrances and exits of the house and appropriate locations in the damaged area.
VII. The subsidy amount and ratio are as follows:
(I) For apartment buildings with more than six floors, the maximum subsidy for each building is NT$15 million, and shall not exceed 85% of the total reinforcement costs.
(II) For apartment buildings with six floors or less, the maximum subsidy for each building is NT$7.5 million, and shall not exceed 85% of the total reinforcement costs.
(III) For houses, the maximum subsidy for each building is NT$2 million, and shall not exceed 85% of the total reinforcement costs.
VIII. Qualifications of applicants for weak-layer reinforcement subsidy are as follows:
(I) If an apartment building has established a management organization and has completed reporting in accordance with the Condominium Administration Act Building Administration Division, the chairman of the management organization or the person in charge of management shall be the applicant.
(II) If the apartment building has not established a management organization, a representative should be appointed as the applicant with the consent of more than one-half of the number of people with ownership and more than one-half of ownership (if more than two-thirds of ownership agrees, the number of people with ownership that agree will not be counted).
(III) For non-apartment buildings, the building owner shall be the applicant.
IX. Applicants for weak-floor reinforcement subsidies must submit the following documents to the implementation agency where the building is located within one year from the date the implementation agency announces that applications will be accepted. When necessary, the implementation agency may extend the application period:
(I) Application form (see Attachment 4).
(II) Photocopy of documentation of the apartment building management organization and minutes of the owners meeting approving the application for weak floor reinforcement subsidies; If the apartment building does not have a management organization, submit the building registration transcript and the consent document of the owners. For non-apartment buildings, submit the applicant’s ID document and building ownership certificate.
(III) Photocopy of building use permit or other legal building documentation.
(IV) Documents proving that red or yellow danger signs were posted due to the April 3 Hualien Earthquake in accordance with the Regulations for Post-Disaster Emergency Assessment of Dangerous Buildings.
(V) Other documents designated by the implementation agency.
X. Applicants shall carry out weak layer reinforcement according to the following regulations (see Attachment 5 for detailed operating procedures):
(I) Submit the documents specified in Article 9 to the implementation agency where the building is located. After review and approval, the implementation agency will issue a subsidy approval letter.
(II) Applicants who have been approved for subsidies must carry out design, supervision, or construction within three months. If applicants fail to do so within the time limit, their subsidy qualifications will be revoked. However, this does not apply if the implementation agency approves an extension of the time limit. (V) Other documents designated by the implementation agency.
(III) The amount of the weak layer reinforcement subsidy includes design, supervision, construction, and building permit related expenses, and appropriate repair funds may be allocated.
(IV) A legally registered architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer shall be commissioned to carry out the design and supervision of weak layer reinforcement.
(V) The completed weak layer reinforcement design drawings and budget should be submitted to the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, National Applied Research Laboratories commissioned by the Ministry (hereinafter referred to as the "Agency Commissioned by the Ministry") for review before construction. The applicant may apply to the implementation agency for disbursement of the first phase of subsidy after passing the review.
(VI) A legally registered construction company must be commissioned to carry out the weak layer reinforcement.
(VII) The design, supervision, and construction of weak layer reinforcement must comply with the Building Act and obtain permits from the implementation agency.
(VIII) The legally registered architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer shall carrying out the design, supervision, and construction of weak layer reinforcement must obtain certificates of participation in lectures on weak layer reinforcement recognized by the government.
(IX) When the actual implementation progress of the weak layer reinforcement reaches 50% and it is reviewed and approved by the implementation agency, the applicant may submit an application to the implementation agency for disbursement of the second phase of the subsidy.
(X) When the weak layer reinforcement is completed and it is reviewed and approved by the implementation agency, the applicant may submit an application to the implementation agency for disbursement of the third phase of the subsidy.
XI. The subsidy for weak layer reinforcement is divided into three stages, and the applicant applies to the implementation agency for disbursement according to the following provisions:
(I) For the first phase of disbursement, after the weak layer reinforcement design drawings and budget are reviewed and approved by the Agency Commissioned by the Ministry, the applicant may submit an application for disbursement of 20% of the total subsidy amount. Required documents are as follows:
I. Application letter.
II. Subsidy approval letter.
III. Weak layer reinforcement design drawings and budget certified by the legally registered architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer.
IV. Documentation reviewed and approved by the Agency Commissioned by the Ministry.
V. Weak layer reinforcement design contract.
VI. Certificates of the design unit's participation in lectures on weak layer reinforcement.
VII. Receipts for reimbursement.
VIII. Other documents designated by the implementation agency.
(II) For the second phase of disbursement, when the actual implementation progress of the weak layer reinforcement reaches 50% and it is reviewed and approved by the implementation agency, the applicant may submit an application for disbursement of 30% of the total subsidy amount. Required documents are as follows:
I. Application letter.
II. Subsidy approval letter.
III. Weak layer reinforcement supervision contract and reinforcement work contract.
IV. Permits obtained from the implementation agency in accordance with the Building Act and related laws and regulations.
V. Documents issued by the construction unit proving that the actual implementation progress of the weak layer reinforcement has reached 50%.
VI. Certificates of the supervision unit and construction company's participation in lectures on weak layer reinforcement.
VII. Photos before and during construction
VIII. Receipts for reimbursement.
IX. Other documents designated by the implementation agency.
(III) For the third phase of disbursement, after construction is completed and it is reviewed and approved by the implementation agency, the applicant may submit an application for disbursement of the remaining subsidy amount. Required documents are as follows:
I. Application letter.
II. Subsidy approval letter.
III. Construction completion drawings and supervision certificate certified by the legally registered architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer and completion certificate issued by the construction company.
IV. Photos before and after construction.
V. Receipts for reimbursement.
VI. Other documents designated by the implementation agency.

XII. When applying for weak layer reinforcement subsidy, the subsidy will not be approved under any of the following circumstances. If the subsidy has already been disbursed, the implementation agency shall revoke or cancel the subsidy approval and require applicant to repay the subsidy to the implementation agency within a time limit:
(I) The applicant intends to rebuild and has applied for a construction permit.
(II) Less than half of the building is used for housing.
(III) Public buildings.
(IV) Reinforced concrete buildings with high chloride ion content that are determined by a professional assessment agency as needing to be demolished.
(V) Already received subsidies from government agencies for applications for other structural reinforcements.
(VI) The implementation agency determines that reinforcement will not be effective.
(VII) The subsidy was disbursed but the reinforcement design or reinforcement work has not been completed.
(VIII) The application documents involve concealment, false representation, or forgery.
XIII. The funds approved by the implementation agency for the current year should be earmarked for special use and included in the budget. Any remaining amount at the end of the year must be returned to the National Treasury Administration, Ministry of Finance.
XIV. The implementation agency shall establish a dedicated unit and personnel to be responsible for overall coordination, prepare monthly reports on the actual progress and fund use, and submit them to the Ministry along with electronic files before the 5th of the following month for future reference.
XV. The Ministry may visit the implementation agency for supervision and inspection as necessary, or convene a plan implementation review meeting. The implementation agency shall cooperate and provide the required documents.
XVI. These regulations are applicable to applicants who are approved by the implementation agency for subsidies in accordance with the "Directions for Actively Providing Guidance for Preliminary Assessment of Building Seismic Resistance Ability and Subsidies for Weak Layer Reinforcement" and determined by the implementation agency to meet the requirements in Article 6.