§ 3301. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature hereby finds and declares as follows:

1. Currently, the Westchester County Medical Center is a public hospital owned and operated by the county of Westchester.

2. The Westchester County Medical Center encompasses the Medical Center Hospital, the Ruth Taylor Geriatric and Rehabilitation Institute, the Psychiatric Institute and the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

3. The Medical Center Hospital is the tertiary care facility for Westchester and the six other counties of the lower Hudson Valley.

4. The needs of the residents of the state of New York and of the county of Westchester can best be served by the operation of the Westchester County Medical Center by a public benefit corporation having the legal, financial and managerial flexibility to take full advantage of opportunities and challenges presented by the evolving health care environment.

5. In order to accomplish the purposes recited in this section to provide health care services and health facilities for the benefit of the residents of the state of New York and the county of Westchester, including persons in need of health care services without the ability to pay as required by law, a public benefit corporation to be known as the Westchester county health care corporation shall be created to provide such services and facilities and to otherwise carry out such purposes; that the creation and operation of the Westchester county health care corporation, as hereinafter provided, is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state of New York and of the county of Westchester, and is a state, county and public purpose; and that the exercise by such corporation of the functions, powers and duties as hereinafter provided constitutes the performance of an essential public and governmental function.