1290                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 108

a body to serve as the health systems agency for the health
service area, by:

(i) Making a joint agreement as to the
purpose, structure, and functions of the proposed body; and

(ii) Each enacting an ordinance that
designates the proposed body to be the health systems agency
for the county.

(2) The body so established becomes the health
systems agency if the United States Secretary of Health and
Human Services designates the body as a health systems
agency.

(b)  Governing board.

(1)  The governing board of each health systems
agency created under this section shall consist of at least
3 individuals.

(2)  Of the members of the governing board:

(i) A majority shall be members of the
governing bodies of the counties in the health service area;
and

(ii) There shall be at least 1 member of
the governing body from each of those counties.

(3)  The governing board shall exercise all of
the powers of the health systems agency that, by law,
agreement of the counties, or bylaws of the health systems
agency, are not conferred on or reserved to the counties or
to another structure within the health systems agency.

(c)  Miscellaneous powers.

In addition to the powers set forth elsewhere in Part I
of this subtitle or in the Federal Act, each health systems
agency created under this section may:

(1)  Sue and be sued;

(2)  Make contracts;

(3)   Incur necessary obligations, which may not
constitute the obligations of any county in the health
service area;

(4)  Acquire, hold, use, improve, and otherwise
deal with property;