b. The State Health Planning Board shall review applications for certificates of need and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Health.

c. In the case of an application for a certificate of need to transfer ownership of an existing general acute care hospital or to close or eliminate a health care facility or service that is subject to review by the State Health Planning Board, the State Health Planning Board shall hold at least one public hearing in the service area of the health care facility or service; except that, in the event the Attorney General or the Department of Health is required by State law to hold a public hearing on the transfer of ownership of the hospital, the State Health Planning Board shall not be required to hold a public hearing on the application for a certificate of need to transfer ownership of the hospital. The public hearing shall be held no later than 30 days after an application is deemed complete by the Commissioner of Health. Public notice of the hearing shall be provided at least two weeks in advance of the date of the hearing.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the contrary, in the event that the commissioner determines that a proposed closure or elimination of a health care facility or service should be considered on an expedited basis in order to preserve the quality of health care provided to the community, the commissioner may reduce the period of time required for public notice of the hearing.

L.1991, c.187, s.34; amended 1992, c.31, s.1; 1999, c.43, s.5; 2012, c.17, s.165.