Upon incorporation, the district has the following powers which are in addition to those powers, duties, and authority conferred upon it by Act 490 of 1976:

(1) To lease or otherwise make available any health care facilities or other of its properties and assets under such terms and conditions as the board considers appropriate.

(2) To provide instruction and training for and to contract for the instruction and training of nurses, technicians, and other technical, professional, and paramedical personnel.

(3) To affiliate with and to contract to provide training and clinical experience for students of other institutions.

(4) To contract for the operation of any department, section, equipment, or holdings of the district and to enter into those contracts which, in its judgment, are in the best interest of the district.

(5) To assume any obligations of any entity that conveys and transfers to the district any health care facilities or other property or interests therein.

(6) To make any expenditure of any monies under its control that would be considered as ordinary and necessary expenses of the district within the meaning of state and federal taxation laws.

(7) To provide scholarships for students in training for work in the duties peculiar to health care.

(8) To enter into affiliation, cooperation, territorial management, or other similar agreements with other institutions for the sharing, division, allocation, or exclusive furnishing of services, referral of patients, management of facilities, and other similar activities.

Nothing contained in this article may be considered to affect or alter the existing laws as they relate to the rights, privileges, medical staff membership, or remedies of physician members of the medical staff of hospitals, hospital facilities, or health care facilities. No district has the power to levy taxes.