The authority is hereby declared to be a body corporate and politic and 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.

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

(g) To incur indebtedness.

(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 boundaries 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 gifts, contributions, grants, or loans, and cooperate under any federal or state legislation in effect on January 25, 1982, or enacted after that date.

(m) To invest any surplus money in its treasury in the same manner as the County of Monterey and according to the same laws.

(n) To negotiate with service providers rates, charges, fees, and rents, and to establish classifications of health care systems operated by the authority.

(o) To develop and implement health care delivery systems to promote quality care and cost efficiency.

(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 (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) in Monterey County through waiver, pilot project, or otherwise.

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

(3) For all persons from Monterey County or any city in that county who are eligible to receive health care under Parts 4.5 (commencing with Section 16700) and 5 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(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 district 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 those 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 former Division 1 (commencing with Section 1).

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 225. Effective January 1, 2005.)