(a) The board shall establish, maintain, and operate a nursing home or other facility or service for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals.
(b) The board has the following powers and duties:
(1) (i) to accept gifts, legacies, bequests, or endowments for purposes of the board; and
(ii) unless otherwise specified by the donor, in the discretion of the board, to spend both principal and income of a gift, legacy, bequest, or endowment for the purposes of the board;
(2) (i) to acquire and hold property in the name of the county commissioners or county council of the county;
(ii) to preserve and administer property acquired by the board; and
(iii) to sell or otherwise dispose of property acquired by the board;
(3) to provide adequate facilities and services for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals, including:
(i) physical care;
(ii) medical care;
(iii) nursing care;
(iv) recreational services;
(v) rehabilitative services;
(vi) special education; and
(vii) dissemination of information relating to causes and prevention of chronic and debilitating illnesses;
(4) (i) subject to item (ii) of this item, to charge fees for admission to and maintenance in a facility and for services provided; and
(ii) to charge fees to indigent individuals in direct proportion to the individual’s ability to pay;
(5) to apply to the purposes of the board all money, assets, or property the board receives;
(6) to adopt rules and regulations for the board’s facilities and services;
(7) to cooperate with and assist, as much as practicable, any unit of the State, the United States, any subdivision of either, or any person;
(8) to hire a director of any facility or service and to provide for additional employees and the qualifications and wages of the employees;
(9) to require any facility or service to maintain standards to qualify for a license as a hospital under Title 19, Subtitle 3, Part III of the Health – General Article; and
(10) to integrate each of the board’s facilities with those of the Secretary of Health.