§22-21-351. Legislative findings.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows:

(1) That in order to promote the public health of the people of the State of Alabama, the Legislature enacted the enabling statute, whereunder, among other things:

a. The several counties, municipalities, and educational institutions of the state are effectively authorized to form public corporations known as health care authorities, and

b. Existing public hospital corporations are authorized to reincorporate as health care authorities;

(2) That all such health care authorities are empowered under and pursuant to the enabling statute, among other things:

a. To own and operate public hospitals and other health care facilities;

b. To furnish office space to (among others) any nonhospital-based physician, dentist or other health care professional for use in his private practice, subject to the conditions specified in the enabling statute; and

c. To appoint, employ, contract with, and provide for the compensation of accountants; and

(3) That as a result of significant changes and developments in the economic and commercial structure and practices of health care providers since the enactment of the enabling statute, it is now necessary, in order to enable health care authorities organized or reincorporated pursuant to the provisions of the enabling statute to continue to operate adequately and efficiently, that the Legislature:

a. Confer on such health care authorities certain powers in addition to, and in furtherance of, those conferred by the enabling statute; and

b. Provide further for the corporate structure of such health care authorities.

(Acts 1987, No. 87-745, p. 1458, §2; Act 2003-249, p. 606, §1.)