(a) Within the time periods designated in § 48-68-204, the attorney general and reporter may do any of the following to assist in the review of the proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction described in this part:

(1) Contract with, consult, and receive advice from any agency of the state or the United States on such terms and conditions the attorney general and reporter deems appropriate; or

(2) At the attorney general and reporter's sole discretion, contract with experts or consultants the attorney general and reporter deems appropriate to assist the attorney general and reporter in reviewing the proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction.

(b) Any contract costs incurred by the attorney general and reporter pursuant to this section shall not exceed an amount that is reasonable and necessary to conduct the review of the proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction. The attorney general and reporter shall be exempt from all state procurement for competitive bidding for purposes of entering into contracts pursuant to this section. The acquiring entity, upon request, shall pay the attorney general and reporter promptly for all costs of contracts entered into by the attorney general and reporter pursuant to this section.

(c) The attorney general and reporter shall be entitled to reimbursement from the acquiring entity for all reasonable and actual costs incurred by the attorney general and reporter in reviewing any proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction under this part, including attorney fees at the billing rate used by the attorney general and reporter to bill state agencies for legal services. The acquiring entity, upon request, shall pay the attorney general and reporter promptly for all costs, but in no event shall reimbursement associated with reviewing a proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The attorney general and reporter shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred for any legal services rendered by external legal counsel.

(d) The failure by the acquiring entity to promptly reimburse the attorney general and reporter for all costs pursuant to this section shall be sufficient ground for the attorney general and reporter to object to the proposed public benefit hospital conveyance transaction.