(a) All agencies, departments, and subdivisions of this State, including public or quasi-public entities by whatever name whose board is appointed pursuant to an act of the General Assembly and redevelopment authorities created pursuant to Chapter 12 of Title 31, that use real property, as owner or tenant, in any county or municipality in this State shall be subject to the zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulations thereof.

Any county or agency, department, or subdivision thereof that uses any real property, as owner or tenant, within the limits of any municipality in this State shall be subject to the zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulations of the municipality.

Any municipality or agency, department, or subdivision thereof, that uses any real property, as owner or tenant, within the limits of any county in this State but not within the limits of such municipality shall be subject to the zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulations of the county. Any municipality or agency, department, or subdivision thereof, that uses any real property, as owner or tenant, within the limits of any other municipality in this State but not within its own limits shall be subject to the zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulation of such other municipality.

The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of any cession of jurisdiction to the United States of America pursuant to Chapter 3 of Title 3, or otherwise.

The provisions of this section shall not require any state agency, department, or subdivision to move from facilities occupied on June 18, 1976, regardless of whether or not their location is in violation of municipal or county zoning ordinances.

The provisions of this act do not apply to a home serving nine or fewer mentally or physically handicapped persons provided the home provides care on a twenty-four-hour basis and is approved or licensed by a state agency or department or under contract with the agency or department for such purpose. Any such home is construed to be a natural family or such similar term as may be utilized by any county or municipal zoning ordinance to refer to persons related by blood or marriage. Prior to locating the home for such handicapped persons the appropriate state agency or department or the private entity operating the home under contract must first give prior notice to the local governing body administering the pertinent zoning laws, advising of the exact site of any proposed home. The notice also must identify the individual representing the agency, department, or private entity for site selection purposes. If the local governing body objects to the selected site, the governing body must notify the site selection representative of the entity seeking to establish the home within fifteen days of receiving notice and must appoint a representative to assist the entity in selection of a comparable alternate site and/or structure. The site selection representative of the entity seeking to establish the home and the representative of the local governing body, shall select a third mutually agreeable person. The three persons shall have forty-five days to make a final selection of the site by majority vote. Such final selection shall be binding on the entity and the governing body. In the event no selection has been made by the end of the forty-five-day period, the entity establishing the home shall select the site without further proceedings. An application for variance or special exception is not required. No person may intervene to prevent the establishment of such a community residence without reasonable justification.

Prospective residents of such homes shall be screened by the licensing agency to insure that such placement is appropriate.

The licensing agency shall conduct reviews of such homes no less frequently than every six months for the purpose of promoting the rehabilitative purposes of the homes and their continued compatibility with their neighborhoods.