[19-112.] 19-119.

Annually each local health planning agency shall receive the Department's
program and budgetary priorities no later than July 1 and may submit to the
Secretary comments on the proposed program and budgetary priorities within 60
days after receiving the proposals.

[19-113.] 19-120.

(a) (1) The governing body or bodies of 1 or more adjacent counties that
constitute a health service area may establish a body to serve as the local health
planning 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 local health planning agency for the county.

(2) The body so established becomes the local health planning agency if
the Commission designates the body as a health planning agency.

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

(c) In addition to the powers set forth elsewhere in [Part I] THIS PART II of
this subtitle, each local health planning 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;

(5) Elect officers and appoint agents, define their duties, and set their
compensation;

(6) Adopt and carry out an employee benefit plan;

(7) Adopt bylaws to conduct its affairs; and

(8) Use the help of any person or public agency to carry out the plans and
policies of the local health planning agency.

(d) (1) In addition to the duties set forth elsewhere in [Part I] THIS PART II
of this subtitle, each local health planning agency created under this section shall
submit annually to the governing body of each county in the health service area a
report on the activities of the local health planning agency.