The Governor, the State Health Officer and the Director of Finance shall present to the Secretary of State of Alabama an application signed by them which shall set forth:
The application shall be subscribed and sworn to by each of the applicants before an officer authorized by the laws of the state to take acknowledgments to deeds. If upon examination of the application it is found that it substantially complies with the requirements of this chapter, the Secretary of State shall receive and file the application and record it in an appropriate book of records.
Ala. Code § 22-29-4 (1975)