# Title 50 — Public Welfare

## Chapter 50-01.2 — Human Service Zone Boards

### § 50-01.2-00.1. Definitions.

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Department" means the department of health and human services.
2. "Host county" means the county within the human service zone in which the human
service zone administrative office is located and in which the human service zone
team members are employed.
### § 50-01.2-01. Human service zone board - Members - Qualifications.

The board of county commissioners of each county within the human service zone shall
appoint the appointed members of the human service zone board based upon fitness to serve
as members by reason of character, experience, and training without regard to political
affiliation. Appointed members of the human service zone board must consist of local elected
officials and other key community partners, including at least one member of the legislative
assembly. If a human service zone consists of two or more counties, each county must be
represented on the human service zone board by only one county commissioner of that county.
If a human service zone consists of a single county, the county must be represented on the
human service zone board by no more than two county commissioners of that county and the
human service zone board must have at least five appointed members. Appointed members
shall elect a vice presiding officer and appoint a secretary, and other officers as the human
service zone board determines necessary. The human service zone director shall serve as
presiding officer of the human service zone board as a nonappointed member.
### § 50-01.2-02. Members of human service zone board - Term of office - Oath -

Compensation.
The appointed members of the human service zone board serve a term of three years or
until their successors have duly qualified. The members appointed to the initial human service
zone board of a human service zone, however, must be appointed to staggered terms
determined according to the plan approved pursuant to section 50-01.1-03. Each appointed
member of the human service zone board shall qualify by taking the oath provided for civil
officers. The oath must be filed with the county auditor of the county of residency. The human
service zone shall compensate appointed members of the human service zone board at a rate
established by the host county commission, upon consultation with the other county
commissions in the human service zone, consistent with the rate of compensation for members
of other appointed boards within the member counties and not to exceed the compensation and
expense reimbursement of members of the legislative assembly. The human service zone shall
also pay members for mileage and actual expenses incurred in attending meetings and in other
performance of official duties of the members in the amounts provided by law for other state
officers.
### § 50-01.2-03. Duties of human service zone board.

The human service zone board in this state shall:
1. Provide information to the department relative to the community needs of the human
service zone residents and advocate to meet those needs.
2. Review services and programs provided by the human service zone and make
periodic recommendations for improvement in services, programs, or facilities.
3. Aid and assist in every reasonable way to efficiently coordinate and conduct human
service activities within the human service zone by private as well as public
organizations.
4. Establish procedures for the review and approval of all claims against the human
service zone human services fund.
5. Supervise and take other personnel actions related to the human service zone director
with direct consultation and involvement from the department. Hire the human service

zone director with the express approval of the department. Employment must be
consistent with the provisions of any law, rule, order, or regulation of the United States
or any federal agency or authority requiring civil service or merit standards or
classifications as a condition for providing funds administered by the department. A
human service zone director must be hired by April 1, 2020.
6. Hear and act on employee grievances in accordance with the human service zone
plan and in compliance with merit system requirements.
### § 50-01.2-03.1. Board may contract.

Repealed by S.L. 2019, ch 391, § 139.
### § 50-01.2-03.2. County duties.

Expired under S.L. 2019, ch. 391, § 75.
### § 50-01.2-04. Removal of members of the human service zone board.

The appointing board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution to remove an
appointed member of the human service zone board without cause. The board of county
commissioners may not remove the human service zone director as presiding officer of the
human service zone board.
### § 50-01.2-05. Actions and proceedings - Duty of state's attorney.

Any suit or other proceeding arising out of the administration of the laws pertaining to the
support of persons eligible for county general assistance or general assistance must be brought
by or against the county in its corporate name, human service zone, or department. The state's
attorney shall institute and conduct or defend any and all actions or proceedings that may be
instituted under chapter 50-01. The department may institute and conduct or defend any and all
actions or proceedings that may be instituted under section 50-01-21.
### § 50-01.2-06. Standards of administration - Action upon failure to administer - Peer

review committee - Appeal.
Repealed by S.L. 2019, ch 391, § 139.
