N.Y. Public Authorities Law § 3301: Legislative findings and purpose

§ 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.