(A) Public agencies and hospital agencies are empowered and authorized to enter into subsidiary loan agreements. Prior to entering into a subsidiary loan agreement pursuant to this article, the county board of the project county or of the authorizing issuer, if the subsidiary loan agreement is between the authorizing issuer and a public agency or hospital agency located in its jurisdiction, shall comply with the following criteria and requirements with respect to hospital facilities located in its jurisdiction; however, the determination of the county board as to its compliance with the criteria and requirements is final and conclusive, subject only to challenge as provided in § 44-7-1690:

(1) There is a need for the hospital facilities in the area in which the hospital facilities are to be located.

(2) No hospital facilities may be provided for any hospital agency or public agency which is not financially responsible and capable of fulfilling its obligations under the subsidiary loan agreement, including the obligations to make the payments required under the agreement, to operate, repair, and maintain at its own expense the hospital facilities, and to discharge other responsibilities as may be imposed under the subsidiary loan agreement.

(3) Adequate provision must be made for the payment of the principal of and the interest on the bonds and any necessary reserves for the payment and for the operation, repair, and maintenance of the hospital facilities at the expense of the hospital agency or public agency.

(4) The public facilities, including utilities, and public services necessary for the hospital facilities must be made available.

(5) The county board has given due consideration, upon the advice of counsel, to the impact, if any, of the bonds on the county’s present or future financings.

(B) The county board may not enter into a subsidiary loan agreement to finance the acquisition, construction, expansion, equipping, or financing of any hospital facilities until approval of the agreement by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as may be required under Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 44.