(a) It is found and determined by the General Assembly that § 14-14-101 et seq. specifically repealed the existing laws relating to county hospital boards of governors and provided that county hospital boards of governors, along with various other county boards and commissions, would cease to exist on July 1, 1978, or sooner if so provided by ordinance of the quorum court, and that the functions and duties of those boards would thereafter be assigned to various county departments.

(b) The General Assembly declares that it would be highly detrimental to the various county hospitals in this state to abolish the boards of governors of those hospitals and to transfer the responsibility for the management and operation of those hospitals to a county department.

(c) It is the purpose and intent of the General Assembly to substantially reenact the laws relating to county hospital boards of governors which were repealed by § 117 of Acts 1977, No. 742, to amend § 14-14-712 so as to exclude county hospital boards of governors from the provisions of § 14-14-712, relating to the reorganization of county boards and commissions, and to assure that the various county hospital boards of governors in the state will continue to function and have the authority and responsibility for the management, control, and operation of the respective county hospitals in substantially the same manner and to the same extent as was provided in Acts 1949, No. 481 [repealed] and the various acts amendatory and supplemental thereto, as if those acts had not been repealed and as if county hospital boards of governors had never been included in the provisions of § 14-14-712; however, in keeping with the intent of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 55, the quorum courts of the respective counties shall have the authority as set forth in this chapter and § 14-14-712 regarding the appointment and functions of county hospital boards of governors.