It is declared that for the benefit of the people of the State, the increase of their commerce, welfare and prosperity and the improvement of their health and living conditions, it is essential that health care facilities within the State be provided with appropriate additional means to expand, enlarge and establish health care facilities and other related facilities; that this and future generations of students be given the fullest opportunity to learn and to develop their intellectual capacities; and that it is the purpose of this chapter to provide a measure of assistance and an alternative method to enable health care facilities, institutions for higher education and nonprofit institutions providing an educational program in the State to provide the facilities and structures needed to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, all to the public benefit and good, and the exercise of the powers, to the extent and manner provided in this chapter, is declared the exercise of an essential governmental function. [PL 2007, c. 354, §1 (AMD).]