(a) Each community service board shall be responsible for employing a program director, and other necessary staff, adopting an annual budget, and securing appropriate facilities, sites, and professionals necessary for the provision of disability services. The program director of the community service board may appoint such other staff and personnel as that program director and board deem necessary and appropriate. The community service board may delegate any power, authority, duty, or function to its program director or other staff. The program director or other staff is authorized to exercise any power, authority, duty, or function on behalf of the community service board.

(b) Each community service board, under the jurisdiction of its board, shall perform duties, responsibilities, and functions and may exercise power and authority described in this subsection. Each program may exercise the following power and authority:

(1) Each community service board may adopt bylaws for the conduct of its affairs; provided, however, that the community service board shall meet at least quarterly, and that all such meetings and any bylaws shall be open to the public, as otherwise required under Georgia law;

(2) Each community service board may make and enter into all contracts necessary and incidental to the performance of its duties and functions;

(3) Each community service board may acquire and dispose of real and personal property;

(4) Each community service board may contract to utilize the services of the Department of Administrative Services, the State Merit System of Personnel Administration, the state auditor, or any other agency of state, local, or federal government;

(5) Each community service board may provide, either independently or through contract with appropriate state or local governmental entities, the following benefits to its employees, their dependents, and survivors, in addition to any compensation or other benefits provided to such persons:

(A) Retirement, pension, disability, medical, and hospitalization benefits, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, but medical and hospitalization benefits may only be provided through a contract with the State Personnel Board under the same conditions as provided for such benefits to state employees, and the State Personnel Board shall so contract for those benefits if requested;

(B) Life insurance coverage and coverage under federal old age and survivors' insurance programs;

(C) Sick leave, annual leave, and holiday leave; and

(D) Any other similar benefits including, but not limited to, death benefits;

(6) Each community service board may cooperate with all units of local government within the boundaries of the community service board as well as neighboring regions and with the programs of other departments, agencies, and regional commissions and boards;

(7) Each community service board shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 20 of Title 45, relating to state personnel administration, and each employee of such board shall be a covered employee as defined in Code Section 45-20-2, subject to the rules and regulations of the state merit system;

(8) Each community service board may receive and administer grants, gifts, contracts, moneys, and donations for purposes pertaining to the delivery of disability services;

(9) Each community service board may make contracts and establish fees for the provision of disability services; provided, however, that such contract and fees shall be in compliance with guidelines established by the division and the regional board; and

(10) Each community service board may accept appropriations or loans of funds, facilities, equipment, and supplies from the local governmental entities within their program boundaries.

(c) Nothing shall prohibit a community service board from contracting with any county governing authority, private or other public provider, or hospital for the provision of disability services.

(d) Each community service board exists for nonprofit and public purposes, and it is found and declared that the carrying out of the purposes of each community service board is exclusively for public benefit and its property is public property. Thus, no community service board shall be required to pay any state or local ad valorem, sales, use, or income taxes.