(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

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.