A county is the largest political division of the State having corporate powers.

The State is divided into counties, named, bounded, and constituted as provided in this title.

The several existing counties of the State and such other counties as are hereafter organized are legal subdivisions of the State.

A county is a body corporate and politic, has the powers specified in this title and such others necessarily implied from those expressed.

A county may:

estate, or survivors has against such third person to the extent of the reasonable value of the care and treatment so furnished or to be furnished.

representative, estate, or survivors, against the third person who is liable for the injury or disease, to the extent of the reasonable value of the care and treatment so furnished or to be furnished. When the third person who is liable is insured, the county shall notify the third person’s insurer, when known to the county, in writing of the lien within 30 days following the filing of the action by the injured or diseased person, his guardian, personal representative, estate, or survivors, against the third person who is liable for the injury or disease; provided, however, that failure to so notify the insurer shall not prejudice the claim or cause of action of the injured or diseased person, his guardian, personal representative, estate, or survivors, or the county.

the claim or cause of action of the injured or diseased person, his guardian, personal representative, estate, or survivors against the third person who is liable for the injury or disease, or shall operate to deny to the injured person the recovery for that portion of his damage not covered hereunder.

Sections 23004.1 and 23004.2 shall become operative in a county only if the board of supervisors of that county, by resolution, elects to be governed by the provisions of such sections.

A county may provide insurance coverage for persons operating foster home facilities licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 16000) of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code against any third-party liability for injuries or damages resulting from the acts or omissions of any child placed in such facility by the county.

Health care facilities, including, but not limited to, hospitals and clinics licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Health and Safety Code, that are owned or operated by counties may establish, maintain, and carry on their activities through one or more corporations, joint ventures, or partnerships for the direct benefit of those health care facilities and the health services that they provide. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt facilities conducting their activities in accordance with this section from the licensure

requirements set forth in Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Health and Safety Code, when those requirements are applicable. Nothing in this section shall be construed to eliminate the necessity of prior approval by the county’s board of supervisors, at a noticed public hearing, of any transfer of the assets of a county health system and the consideration therefor.

A county may exercise its powers only through the board of supervisors or through agents and officers acting under authority of the board or authority conferred by law.

Any contract, authorization, allowance, payment, or liability to pay, made or attempted to be made in violation of law, is void, and shall not be the foundation or basis of a claim against the treasury of any county.

Except as specified in this chapter, a county shall not, in any manner, give or loan its credit to or in aid of any person or corporation that is not a public bank, as defined in Section 57600. An indebtedness or liability incurred contrary to this chapter is void.

board of supervisors may personally elect to contribute for additional credit for service.

Whenever it is economical and satisfactory to do so, a county may lease equipment, perform work, or furnish goods for any district or municipal corporation within the county, if before the work is done or the goods are ordered or furnished by the county, an amount equal to the cost, or an amount 10 percent in excess of the estimated cost, is so reserved from the funds of the district or municipal corporation to be charged that it may be transferred to the county, when the work is completed or the goods are supplied.

In such event, charges for work done or goods supplied may be made by claims and warrants upon the district or municipal corporation or by properly approved bill, in such form and manner as the auditor directs, from the department, division, or account supplying the goods or service to the district or municipal corporation supplied, and payment may be made by transfer of funds upon the books of the auditor and treasurer, on order of the board of supervisors, without the formality of claim and warrant.

its obligations. The loan shall not exceed 85 percent of the district’s anticipated revenue for the fiscal year in which it is made or for the next ensuing fiscal year, and shall be repaid out of that revenue before the payment of any other obligation of the district.

district before the payment of any other obligation of the district.

to another garbage disposal district, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this section.

ensuing fiscal year, and shall be repaid out of that revenue before the payment of any other obligation of the district.

Pursuant to a resolution adopted by its board of supervisors, a county may lend any of its available funds to any fire protection district located wholly within the county if the funds of the fire protection district are or, when available, will be in the custody of the county treasurer, for the acquisition of real or personal property and the construction of structures needed for district purposes.

The board of supervisors in the resolution shall specify the date and manner in which the funds shall be repaid. The resolution may require the repayment of the loan in equal annual installments. The loan shall be repaid within the time

specified in the resolution which shall not in any event exceed 10 years.

The board of supervisors may loan to any city within its limits which has been incorporated for less than one year an amount not exceeding eighty-five percent (85%) of the city’s anticipated revenues for the fiscal year in which such loan is made. Such loans shall be repaid within the fiscal year in which made.

Upon adoption of an authorizing resolution by the board of supervisors, in connection with the construction of any sanitary sewer, storm sewer, or drainage improvements, a county may expend any of its available funds for any additional cost of construction of any conveyance works in excess of the construction required for the current project, or for a portion of the cost of conveyance works directly benefiting properties in an area outside the area to be served by the current project, if the board of supervisors first finds and declares in that resolution, that there is an area outside the area to be served by the current project which may in the future

utilize the conveyance works; that additional construction of conveyance works for the current project is necessary to serve the outside area in the future; and that the board of supervisors will have the right in the future to use, or to permit the use of, the conveyance works and the additional construction which will benefit the outside area. In lieu of a county contribution of funds for additional construction or for a portion of the cost of the conveyance works where an outside area is directly benefited, the board of supervisors may agree to reimburse, from future connection fees, any entity or person described in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive.

The provisions of this section shall be applicable in cases in which improvements are to be constructed by any of the following:

Highways Code.

to assure the right of the county to use the conveyance works and the additional construction, for the future benefit of the outside area.

The board of supervisors may impose a connection fee upon any person or district in the outside area to be paid to the county as a condition to connecting to any conveyance works which have been augmented by additional construction, or which have been found by the board of supervisors to directly benefit the outside area, pursuant to this section. The connection fee shall be a prorated share of the total cost of the additional construction, or of the portion of the costs of the conveyance works where an outside area is directly benefited. The fee may include a reasonable

amount for administrative costs associated with the collection of the fee and to provide reimbursement to an entity or person described in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive. In computing the total cost of the additional construction, or of the portion of the costs of the conveyance works where an outside area is directly benefited, the board of supervisors shall include an amount attributable to interest from the date of completion of the construction to the date of connection and, in the event the board of supervisors agrees to reimburse, from future connection fees, any entity or person described in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, all accrued interest shall be payable to that entity or person.

This section shall not decrease or limit any other power vested in counties or boards of supervisors.