Section 3601. Legislative findings and purpose

The legislature hereby finds
  and declares as follows:
    1. Currently, the Clifton-Fine Hospital is a public hospital owned and
  operated by the town of Clifton and the town of Fine.
    2.  The  needs  of  the  residents of the state of New York and of the
  towns of Clifton and Fine in St. Lawrence County can best be  served  by
  the   operation  of  the  Clifton-Fine  Hospital  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.
    3. 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 towns of Clifton and Fine
  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
  Clifton-Fine  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 Clifton-Fine 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 towns of Clifton and Fine and
  is  a state, municipal 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.