The venue of civil actions for damages brought pursuant to the Affordable Access to Health Care Act, Section 1-1708.1A et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall be in a county where the cause of action or any portion thereof arose, or in any county in which any of the defendants reside, or in the case of a corporation, in a county in which it is situated, or has its principal office or place of business, or in any county where a codefendant of such corporation may be sued. Upon a finding of lack of venue, the court shall transfer or dismiss the action; provided, however, that if the court finds lack of venue and that a dismissal would operate as a dismissal with prejudice, the court shall transfer the action.