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. 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.