North Dakota Century Code Title 10. Corporations § 10-33-146. Transaction by a nonprofit corporation or entity operating or controlling a hospital or nursing home--Notice of decision--Public meeting--Meeting notice

Within ninety days of receipt of the written notice required under section 10-33-144, and such other additional extension of time permitted or provided under section 10-33-144, the attorney general shall notify, in writing, the nonprofit corporation or entity operating or controlling a hospital or nursing home of the attorney general's decision to approve, deny, or take any other action on the proposed agreement or transaction. Before issuing a written decision under this section, the attorney general may conduct one or more public hearings, one of which must be held in the county where the hospital or nursing home is located. At a public hearing under this section, the attorney general shall request and receive comments from any interested person regarding the proposed agreement or transaction. At least fourteen days before a public hearing under this section, the attorney general shall provide notice of the meeting by publication in the official newspaper of the city in which the hospital or nursing home is located. The attorney general shall also provide notice of the meeting to the governing body of the county in which the hospital or nursing home is located, if applicable, and to the governing body of the city in which the hospital or nursing home is located, if applicable. Any party to the agreement may institute legal proceedings in the district court of the county in which the hospital or nursing home is located to review the attorney general's decision. In a district court action brought under this section, the attorney general's decision is subject to de novo review by the court. In a proceeding under this section, the attorney general must be served with notice and is entitled to be heard. If the attorney general substantially prevails in a proceeding under this section, the attorney general is entitled to an award of attorney's fees, investigation fees, costs, and expenses of any investigation and proceeding under this section. The court shall award attorney's fees to the attorney general under this section based upon the hourly rates the attorney general charges to state agencies for the attorney general's legal services. A court may not apply the limitation on the rate of the attorney general's attorney's fees under this section as a limitation on an award of attorney's fees to the attorney general under any other section.