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<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="6.5-203" title_number="6.5" title_name="Attorney General -- Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Entities" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Application Process">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>As soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days after receiving a complete application, including all necessary expert reports, the appropriate regulating entity shall hold a public hearing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the nonprofit health entity is a hospital, the regulating entity shall hold the public hearing in the jurisdiction in which the hospital is located.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A public hearing under this section shall be a quasi–legislative hearing and not a contested case hearing.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Any person may file written comments and exhibits or make a statement at the public hearing.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The regulating entity may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>subpoena information and witnesses;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>require sworn statements;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>take depositions; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>use related discovery procedures.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The regulating entity may contract with experts as reasonably necessary to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>determine whether to approve an acquisition generally;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>perform an independent valuation of the public or charitable assets of the transferor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>evaluate the impact of the acquisition on the affected community;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>determine whether there has been due diligence by the transferor; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>determine the existence of any conflicts of interest.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The selection of an expert by a regulating entity under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be subject to the State procurement laws.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a regulating entity contracts for expert assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the transferee shall pay the reasonable cost of the expert assistance, as determined by the regulating entity.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Within 60 days after the record, including the public hearing process, has been closed, the appropriate regulating entity shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>approve the acquisition, with or without modifications; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>disapprove the acquisition.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, at its discretion, the regulating entity may extend for good cause for a 60–day period the time for making a determination under subsection (f) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The regulating entity is limited to a maximum of two 60–day extensions for making a determination on the same application.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a determination made by the appropriate regulating entity under subsection (f) of this section may not take effect until the earlier of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>90 calendar days after the date the determination is made; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the date when ratified or rejected by the General Assembly.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The appropriate regulating entity may waive the waiting period under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection if the appropriate regulating entity determines that waiving the waiting period is in the best interest of the public.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
