(a) The General Assembly declares that it is the intent of this article to provide a mechanism for the operation and maintenance of needed health care facilities in the several counties and municipalities of this state. It is the further intent of the General Assembly that, whenever an authority ceases to perform the minimum functions required for the continued operation and maintenance of needed health care facilities in the county or municipality, a procedure be made available to recognize the failure of the authority to perform these minimum functions and to provide for the orderly and responsible reorganization of the authority.

(b) Whenever it appears that an authority has ceased to perform the minimum functions required for the continued operation and maintenance of needed health care facilities in the county or municipality in which the authority is authorized to function, a petition may be filed in the superior court in the county requesting that the members of the authority be removed from office and that any vacancy created by a removal be filled as provided in Code Section 31-7-72 for the initial appointment of members of an authority. Each such petition shall be filed by one or more residents of the county in which the authority is authorized to function, or by the county governing authority, and shall be supported by petition of a number of residents of the county equal to 5 percent or more of the number of electors registered to vote in the general election last held in the county. In the case of an authority authorized to function solely within a municipality, the petition shall be filed by one or more residents of the municipality in which the authority is authorized to function, or by the municipal governing authority, and shall be supported by petition of a number of residents of the municipality equal to 5 percent or more of the number of electors registered to vote in the general election last held in the municipality.

(c) Upon the filing of any petition as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the judge of the superior court shall set a hearing to inquire into the merits of the petition not sooner than ten days nor later than 30 days from the date of filing of the petition. The hearing may be continued, in the discretion of the judge, on motion of any party.

(d) At each hearing held as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, the judge, sitting without a jury, shall inquire into and determine the question of whether the authority has ceased to perform the minimum functions required for the continued operation and maintenance of needed health care facilities in the county or municipality. In making his determination the judge shall consider, but shall not be limited by, whether the authority has:

(1) Failed to establish and enforce rates and charges as provided in Code Section 31-7-77;

(2) Failed to take any reasonable action when the failure has the effect of jeopardizing repayment of principal or interest, when due, on revenue anticipation certificates issued by the authority;

(3) Failed to take any reasonable action when the failure has the effect of breaching a contract providing for continued maintenance and use of the authority's facilities and entered into with a county or municipality as provided in Code Section 31-7-85;

(4) Failed to make plans for unmet needs of the community as authorized by paragraph (22) of Code Section 31-7-75;

(5) Failed to make and file its annual report as provided in Code Section 31-7-90;

(6) Failed to adopt an annual budget as provided in Code Section 31-7-90;

(7) Failed to conduct the annual audit as provided in Code Section 31-7-91;

(8) Failed to report or publish the annual audit as provided in Code Section 31-7-92;

(9) Failed to hold at least one meeting in the preceding calendar quarter; or

(10) Failed to take any other action required pursuant to this article.

(e) After giving all parties an opportunity to be heard, the judge shall determine, based on the evidence presented, whether the clear and convincing weight of the evidence is that the authority has ceased to perform the minimum functions required for the continued operation and maintenance of needed health care facilities in the county or municipality. In the event the judge so decides, he shall order the immediate removal from office of the members of the authority, except that no member shall be removed who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the judge his good faith attempt to fulfill his duties as a member of the authority. In the event the court denies the petition, the petition shall be dismissed.

(f) Vacancies created pursuant to this Code section shall be filled in the same manner as provided in Code Section 31-7-72 for the initial appointment of members of an authority. Vacancies created by the expiration of the term or the resignation or disability of a member appointed pursuant to this Code section shall be filled as provided in Code Section 31-7-72 for the filling of vacancies.