Section 101750.

The authority is hereby declared to be a body corporate and politic and it shall have power:

(a) To have perpetual succession.

(b) To sue and be sued in the name of the authority in all actions and proceedings in all courts and tribunals of competent jurisdiction.

(c) To adopt a seal and alter it at pleasure.

(d) To take by grant, purchase, gift, devise, or lease, to hold, use and enjoy, and to lease, convey or dispose of, real and personal property of every kind, within or without the boundaries of the authority, necessary or convenient to the full exercise of its powers. The board may lease, mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property within or without the boundaries of the authority necessary to the full or convenient exercise of its powers.

(e) To make and enter into contracts with any public agency or person for the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, agreements under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. Members of the board shall be disqualified from voting on contracts in which they have a financial interest. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, members shall not be disqualified from continuing to serve as a member of the board and a contract may not be avoided solely because of a member's financial interest.

(f) To appoint and employ an executive director and other employees as may be necessary, including legal counsel, fix their compensation and define their powers and duties. The board shall prescribe the amounts and forms of fidelity bonds of its officers and employees. The cost of these bonds shall be borne by the authority. The authority may also contract for the services of an independent contractor.

(g) To incur indebtedness not exceeding revenue in any year.

(h) To purchase supplies, equipment, materials, property, or services.

(i) To establish policies relating to its purposes.

(j) To acquire or contract to acquire, rights-of-way, easements, privileges, or property of every kind within or without the service area of the authority, and construct, equip, maintain, and operate any and all works or improvements within or without the boundaries of the authority necessary, convenient, or proper to carry out any of the provisions, objects or purposes of this chapter, and to complete, extend, add to, repair, or otherwise improve any works or improvements acquired by it.

(k) To make contracts and enter into stipulations of any nature upon the terms and conditions that the board finds are for the best interest of the authority for the full exercise of the powers granted in this chapter.

(l) To accept gifts, contributions, grants, or loans from any public agency or person for the purposes of this chapter. The authority may do any and all things necessary in order to avail itself of the gifts, contributions, grants, or loans, and cooperate under any federal or state legislation in effect on March 25, 1982, or enacted after that date.

(m) To manage its moneys and to provide depository and auditing services pursuant to either of the methods applicable to special districts as set forth in the Government Code.

(n) To negotiate with service providers rates, charges, fees and rents, and to establish classifications of health care systems operated by the authority. Members of the board who are county officers and employees may vote to approve arrangements and agreements between the authority and the county as a service provider and these directors shall not thus be disqualified solely for the reason that they are employed by the county.

(o) To develop and implement health care delivery systems to promote quality care and cost efficiency and to provide appeal and grievance procedures available to both providers and consumers.

(p) To provide health care delivery systems for any or all of the following:

(1) For all persons who are eligible to receive medical benefits under the Medi-Cal Act, as set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, in the service area through waiver, pilot project, or otherwise.

(2) For all persons in the service area who are eligible to receive medical benefits under both Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

(3) For all persons in the service area who are eligible to receive medical benefits under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act.

(4) For all persons in the service area who are eligible to receive medical benefits under publicly supported programs if the authority, and participating providers acting pursuant to subcontracts with the authority, agree to hold harmless the beneficiaries of the publicly supported programs if the contract between the sponsoring government agency and the authority does not ensure sufficient funding to cover program benefits.

(q) To insure against any accident or destruction of its health care system or any part thereof. It may insure against loss of revenues from any cause. The authority may also provide insurance as provided in Part 6 (commencing with Section 989) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(r) To exercise powers that are expressly granted and powers that are reasonably implied from express powers and necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(s) To do any and all things necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(t) With respect to services provided outside the county, the authority may only provide those services to the extent that the services are authorized by resolution of the board of supervisors of the county in which the services are to be provided.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 266, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2008.)