(a) From and after July 1, 1999, only such new institutional health services or health care facilities as are found by the department to be needed shall be offered in the state. Prior to that date, only such new institutional health services or health care facilities which had been found to be needed by the Health Planning Agency under any prior provisions of this chapter and the regulations issued thereunder shall have been offered in the state, unless otherwise exempt from the requirements of the law or unless that law was not applicable. It is the intent of this provision to assure that no new institutional health services or health care facilities, as defined prior to July 1, 1999, are allowed to avoid the requirements of any prior provisions of this chapter, and applicable regulations, if those laws and regulations were applicable to them.

(b) Any person proposing to develop or offer a new institutional health service or health care facility shall, before commencing such activity, submit an application to the department and obtain a certificate of need in the manner provided in this chapter unless such activity is excluded from the scope of this chapter.

(c)(1) Any person who offered new institutional health services, as defined only in subparagraphs (G) and (H) of paragraph (14) of Code Section 31-6-2, within the 12 month period prior to July 1, 1999, and for which services a certificate of need was not required under the provisions of this chapter as they existed prior to July 1, 1999, shall not be required to obtain a certificate of need in order to continue to offer those previously offered services after that date if that person obtains an exemption therefor as provided in this subsection.

(1.1) Any person who, on July 1, 1999:

(A) Has in place a valid written contract of purchase, construction, or assembly for purposes of offering new institutional health services, as defined only in subparagraphs (G) and (H) of paragraph (14) of Code Section 31-6-2;

(B) Has prior to said date paid in cash or made an irrevocable and secured commitment or obligation of a minimum of 30 percent of the price called for under said contract;

(C) Has taken delivery and has in operation such new institutional health services on or before January 1, 1992; and

(D) Has notified the Health Planning Agency no later than July 1, 1991, of that person's intent to apply for an exemption under this paragraph

shall not be required to obtain a certificate of need in order to offer those services if that person obtains an exemption therefor as provided in this subsection.

(2) A person claiming an exemption under paragraph (1) or (1.1) of this subsection shall apply to the Health Planning Agency for that exemption no later than July 1, 1992. The application shall be in such form and manner as established by the Health Planning Agency to provide sufficient proof that the applicant qualifies for the exemption claimed. The Health Planning Agency shall notify the applicant within 90 days after the required application and proof have been properly submitted that the application for exemption is denied; otherwise, the application shall be deemed granted by operation of law upon the ninety-first day. Such a grant of the exemption shall be final and no appeal therefrom shall be authorized. A denial of such application for exemption shall constitute a contested case under Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." Any person having a certificate of need or authorization to offer the services for which an application for exemption has been denied may intervene in the contested case if such person offers those services within the same service area as the service area in which were to be offered the services for which the application for exemption was denied.

(3) A person who claims an exemption pursuant to this subsection may continue to offer the services for which the exemption may be claimed without applying for the exemption, but those services may not be offered after October 1, 1992, or any date prior thereto upon which a decision denying the exemption has become final unless:

(A) The person applied for the exemption as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection but on October 1, 1992, there has either been no decision made denying the exemption or a decision denying the exemption has not become final, in either of which events the services for which the application for exemption was made may be offered until there is a final decision denying the exemption;

(B) The person is granted the exemption; or

(C) The person obtains a certificate of need for the services.

For purposes of this subsection, a decision denying an application for an exemption shall become final when the time for appealing that decision expires without an appeal of such decision having been properly made.

(4) An exemption obtained pursuant to this subsection may be transferred to another person if the department is notified thereof within 45 days after the transfer occurs.

(5) The Health Planning Agency shall establish procedures for obtaining exemptions under this subsection and shall publish a list not later than October 1, 1992, of all such applications granted or pending on that date.

(d) Any person that had formally requested, prior to February 1, 1991, a determination from the Health Planning Agency of the applicability of the certificate of need requirements for a specific project that is subsequently approved by the Health Planning Agency or by appeal of the Health Planning Agency's denial shall be exempt under the provisions of this chapter from the requirement of obtaining a certificate of need for that project.