Subject to obtaining approvals from the Authority required by Section 44-7-1590 and from the Department of Health and Environmental Control, required by Section 44-7-1490, the several counties of the State functioning through their respective county boards shall be empowered:

(1) To enter into agreements with any hospital agency or public agency necessary or incidental to the issuance of bonds.

(2) To acquire and in connection with such acquisition, to enlarge or expand, whether by purchase, gift or lease, hospital facilities and in the case of hospital facilities located in more than one county, the facilities may be acquired jointly by the county boards of the counties wherein such hospital facilities shall be located.

(3) To enter into loan agreements with any hospital agency or public agency, prescribing the payments to be made by the hospital agency or public agency to the county or its assignee to meet the payments that shall become due on bonds, including terms and conditions relative to the acquisition and use of hospital facilities and the issuance of bonds.

(4) To issue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of providing hospital facilities and to secure the payment of such bonds as hereafter provided.

(5) To receive and accept from any public agency loans or grants for or in aid of the construction of hospital facilities or any portion thereof, and to receive and accept loans, grants, aid or contributions from any source of either money, property, labor or other things of value to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which such loans, grants, aid and contributions are made.

(6) To mortgage any hospital facilities and the site thereof for the benefits of the holders of bonds issued to finance such hospital facilities.

(7) To issue bonds to refinance or to refund outstanding obligations, mortgages or advances heretofore or hereafter issued, made or given by a hospital or public agency for the cost of hospital facilities.

(8) To charge to each hospital and public agency utilizing this article any administrative costs and expenses incurred in the exercise of the powers and duties conferred by this article.

(9) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this article.

(10) To make and execute contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the exercise of its powers and duties under this article, with persons, firms, corporations, governmental agencies and others.

(11) To make the proceeds of any bonds available by way of a loan to a hospital or public agency pursuant to a loan agreement.

(12) To acquire by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise, or to obtain options for the acquisition of, existing hospital facilities and any property, real or personal, improved or unimproved, including interests in land in fee or less than fee for any hospital facilities, upon such terms and at such cost as shall be agreed upon by the owner and the county board.

(13) To arrange or contract with any county, city, town or other political subdivision or instrumentality of the State for the opening or closing of streets or for the furnishing of utility or other services to any hospital facilities.

(14) To enter into lease agreements with any hospital or public agency whereby the county board leases hospital facilities to such hospital or public agency, including hospital facilities located in more than one county.

(15) To pledge or assign any money, rents, charges, fees or other revenues, including any proceeds of insurance or condemnation awards, pursuant to any loan agreement to the payment of the bonds issued pursuant to such loan agreement.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 32-798.3; 1973 (58) 654.