48-805.01. Separate legal entities; joint exercise of powers

A. If public agencies identified in subsection B of this section form a separate legal entity pursuant to section 11-952, the entity has the powers common to the contracting powers specified in the agreement and may jointly exercise powers held in common by the contracting parties in a manner or according to the method provided in the agreement. Notwithstanding title 38, an officer or elected member of the governing body of a party to the agreement may also act in the capacity of a member of the governing body of the separate legal entity. In its own name and subject to the agreement, the separate legal entity, subject to existing applicable law, may:

1. Make and enter into contracts, including contracts, leases or other transactions with one or more of the parties to the agreement forming the separate legal entity.

2. Employ agents and employees.

3. Acquire, hold or dispose of property.

4. Acquire, construct, manage, maintain and operate buildings, works, infrastructure, apparatus, equipment and improvements.

5. Incur debts, liabilities and obligations.

6. Sue and be sued.

7. Require all current and prospective employees and volunteers to submit a full set of fingerprints to the joint powers authority, fire authority, fire and medical authority or fire and ambulance authority. The joint powers authority, fire authority, fire and medical authority or fire and ambulance authority shall submit the fingerprints to the department of public safety for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check pursuant to section 41-1750 and Public Law 92-544. The department of public safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the federal bureau of investigation.

B. Cities, towns, counties and fire districts established pursuant to this title may form a separate legal entity pursuant to section 11-952, for the purposes of jointly exercising powers held in common by the contracting parties. Common powers of the contracting parties when otherwise authorized pursuant to state law may include fire protection, the preservation of life, providing emergency medical services, and carrying out its other powers and duties, including providing ambulance transportation services when authorized to do so pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2. Any separate legal entity formed pursuant to this section shall include a fire district. The intergovernmental agreement must state the intent to form a separate legal entity pursuant to this subsection. The governing body of a separate legal entity formed pursuant to this subsection shall be composed of officials elected to one or more of the governing bodies of the political subdivisions that are parties to the agreement, or their designees. A separate legal entity identified pursuant to this subsection:

1. Is a political subdivision of this state having:

(a) The governmental and proprietary powers that are common to the contracting parties specified in the agreement and those powers provided for in section 11-952 and this section.

(b) The rights and immunities of the parties that are granted by the constitution and statutes of this state, including immunity of its property from taxation.

2. May separately contract for an undertaking with any two or more of the parties or other public agencies or other entities. Limitations on the exercise of common powers shall be applicable only to the parties to the agreement participating in the undertaking.

3. May establish any governance and board structure necessary to carry out its powers and duties subject to the requirements of section 11-952 and this section.

4. If specified in the agreement, is the authority that has jurisdiction for the purpose of fire code administration and enforcement for the parties to the agreement.

5. Shall be provided a .gov identifier for the website used to carry out its powers and duties by the applicable governmental issuer.

6. In addition to other powers provided for in the agreement by a vote of its governing body, may incur obligations payable from the entity's revenues, to pay the costs and expenses of acquiring or constructing any structures, facilities or equipment necessary to effectuate the purposes of the agreement subject to the following conditions and requirements:

(a) The parties to the agreement, with the approval of each participating entity's voters, may issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of funding the costs and expenses of acquiring or constructing any structures, facilities or equipment necessary to effectuate the purposes of the agreement. Each of the participating party's general obligation bonding authority is limited to that of each party's enabling legislation.

(b) The general obligation bonds are payable from the taxes or assessments paid to, or to be levied or collected by, the entity or the political subdivisions that are parties to the agreement that forms the entity.

(c) The general obligation bonds are limited to an amount as authorized by the qualified electors that are parties to the agreement and are subject to the requirements of sections 35-431 and 48-806.

7. May use the title fire authority, fire and medical authority, fire and emergency medical services authority, fire and ambulance authority or ambulance authority to identify the separate legal entity formed pursuant to this section. The titles prescribed in this paragraph may not be used in the name, title or designation of other state or local agencies, business entities or nonprofit organizations.

C. For the purposes of subsection B of this section, " undertaking" :

1. Means one or more of the following:

(a) Purchasing, constructing, leasing or acquiring any real or personal property, works, apparatus, equipment or facilities that the political subdivisions that formed the entity are authorized by law to purchase, construct, lease or otherwise acquire.

(b) Improving, reconstructing, extending or adding to any real or personal property, works, apparatus, equipment or facilities owned or operated by the entity.

(c) Any program of development involving real or personal property, works, apparatus, equipment or facilities that the entity is authorized by law to purchase, construct, lease or otherwise acquire or the improvement, reconstruction, extension or addition to the program.

(d) Providing fire protection, for the preservation of life, for providing emergency medical services and for carrying out its other powers and duties, including providing ambulance transportation services when authorized to do so pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2 and purchasing, constructing, leasing or acquiring, or the extension or addition of, works, apparatus, equipment or facilities designed to serve areas or territories already being served by any of the parties to the agreement.

2. Does not include the acquisition by eminent domain of existing works or facilities of a political subdivision.

D. The exercise of joint powers does not create any expansion of a certificate of necessity issued pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2 or the operating rights as defined by the certificate of necessity held by one or more of the entities entering into a joint powers authority. The operating rights remain the same as those rights granted to the certificate of necessity holder at the date of the establishment of the joint powers authority unless modified pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2.

E. A fire district board that participates in an agreement to form a separate legal entity pursuant to this section:

1. Is not subject to the public meeting requirements provided in section 48-805.

2. Shall hold a public meeting at least once every ninety days or as necessary to carry out its powers and duties.

3. If a cumulative financial report review occurs at least once every ninety days, is considered compliant with section 48-807, subsection P, except that adverse financial impact reporting shall be reported as provided by section 48-807, subsection P.

F. A municipality that participates in an agreement to form a separate legal entity pursuant to this section is not subject to a limit on the duration of the agreement.