(a) Any person who acquires a health care facility by stock or asset purchase, merger, consolidation, or other lawful means shall notify the department of such acquisition, the date thereof, and the name and address of the acquiring person. Such notification shall be made in writing to the department within 45 days following the acquisition and the acquiring person may be fined by the department in the amount of $500.00 for each day that such notification is late. Such fine shall be paid into the state treasury.

(b) The department may limit the time periods during which it will accept applications for the following health care facilities:

(1) Skilled nursing facilities;

(2) Intermediate care facilities; and

(3) Home health agencies,

to only such times after the department has determined there is an unmet need for such facilities. The department shall make a determination as to whether or not there is an unmet need for each type of facility at least every six months and shall notify those requesting such notification of that determination.

(c) The department may require that any applicant for a certificate of need agree to provide a specified amount of clinical health services to indigent patients as a condition for the grant of a certificate of need. A grantee or successor in interest of a certificate of need or an authorization to operate under this chapter which violates such an agreement, whether made before or after July 1, 1991, shall be liable to the department for a monetary penalty in the amount of the difference between the amount of services so agreed to be provided and the amount actually provided. Any penalty so recovered shall be paid into the state treasury.

(d) Penalties authorized under this Code section shall be subject to the same notices and hearing for the levy of fines under Code Section 31-6-45.