(a) A fee charged by the department for filing an application may not be excessive and must reflect the department's actual costs in processing the application, providing copies of documents to persons connected with the application process, and making appropriate information available to the public through the department's website.
(b) The department shall publish each year an updated schedule of application fees that specifies the amount to be charged at each stage of the application process.
(c) In accordance with the fee schedule, the department shall refund the balance of any fees collected for an application that is withdrawn by the applicant or that is not fully processed by the department. The department must provide the refund to the applicant not later than the 30th day after the date the last official action is taken with respect to the application.
(d) The department shall develop a sliding scale fee schedule for applications that encourages increased participation by community housing development organizations in the low income housing tax credit program.