The State Board of Health is hereby authorized and empowered to acquire, construct, equip, maintain and operate public hospitals, health centers and related facilities for the treatment of any type of disease.
The State Board of Health is authorized and empowered to cooperate and to make contracts with the United States Government, any local political subdivisions or their agencies, any nonprofit association or public improvement society in the acquisition, building, equipping, maintaining and operating of any public hospitals, health centers and related facilities for the treatment of any kind of disease.
Ala. Code § 22-4-14 (1975)