# Title 33 — State Department of Health

## Article 33-03 — Public Health Division

## Chapter 33-03-28 — District Health Units

### § 33-03-28-01. Definitions.

1. "Approved health department" means a city health department which:
a. Is in compliance with all minimum standards for core services/programs as established
by the department;
b. Has at a minimum, a city health officer and at least a one-half time registered nurse;
c. Submits records and reports as requested by the department; and
d. Is funded by the city at a level of at least two dollars and fifty cents per capita.
2. "Department" means the state department of health.
3. "District health unit" means one or more contiguous counties which have adopted a district
health plan pursuant to North Dakota Century Code chapter 23-14. It includes all cities within
the counties except those cities of greater than fifteen thousand population which have
specifically rejected the plan.
History: Effective February 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 23-14-01.6
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-14-01.1
### § 33-03-28-02. District board of health - Name.

Each newly formed district board of health shall select a name for its district health unit. The name
may be changed at any time upon a majority vote by the district board of health.
History: Effective February 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 23-14-01.6
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-14-04, 23-14-09
### § 33-03-28-03. City-county health districts - Contracts.

1. A contract entered into between an approved health department and a board of county
commissioners pursuant to North Dakota Century Code sections 23-14-01.1 and 54-40-08
must specify the public health services and programs to be provided, the manner in which
they will be provided, and the cost to the county for their provision.
2. The contract must be reviewed annually by the board of county commissioners and by the city
health department to determine whether the services provided are adequate, whether
additional needs exist, and whether any changes to the contract need to be negotiated.
History: Effective February 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 23-14-01.6
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-14-01.1

### § 33-03-28-04. Equality of services provided.

1. The district board of health is responsible for determining which public health services and
programs the district health unit will provide.
2. Any services provided by the district health unit must be made available to all areas within the
health district.
3. If it is not practical for the district health unit to provide the services directly through its own
staff, it may contract with another entity to deliver the services.
4. To maintain equality of service throughout the district, it is recommended that the district
health unit employ, at a minimum, the services of at least a one-half time registered nurse for
each county within the district, and that each county within the district have the services of a
public health officer.
History: Effective February 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 23-14-01.6
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-14-01.6
### § 33-03-28-05. Distribution of grants.

1. To be eligible for any grant of state moneys through the department, a district health unit must
meet all of the following criteria:
a. Be funded at a level of two dollars and fifty cents or greater for each person residing
within the health district exclusive of any state grant money;
b. Have an active district board of health that meets quarterly, maintains minutes of its
meetings, and provides a copy of the minutes to the department;
c. Have the services of at least a one-half time registered nurse for each county within the
district;
d. Have a health officer available for each county within the district;
e. Submit records and reports as requested by the department; and
f. Be in compliance with all minimum standards for core services and programs as
established by the department.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1, any district health unit may, at the
department's discretion, be granted a waiver of the requirements in subdivisions a, c, and f of
subsection 1 for the first three years of the district's existence.
History: Effective February 1, 1992.
General Authority: NDCC 23-14-01.6
Law Implemented: NDCC 23-14-01.6
