1.    In order to provide optimum service, reduce program costs, and benefit recipients of human services within this state, counties shall combine and consolidate their county agencies into human service zones in the manner provided in this chapter.

2.    Human service zones succeed to all the powers and duties enumerated for county agencies and shall perform all the functions and responsibilities assigned to county agencies by this title. When consistent with this chapter, all provisions relating to county agencies contained in this title apply to and govern human service zones.

3.    Counties shall identify other counties with which to enter a human service zone agreement, and together the board of county commissioners shall file with the department a written agreement to create a human service zone. The agreement must identify the proposed counties of the human service zone, host county, identify the human service zone board members, proposed effective date, and agree to seek approval from the department regarding hiring or dismissal of human service zone employees. The department shall review and approve all agreements in accordance with section 50-01.1-03. The department may modify the agreements as specified in section 50-01.1-03 or if some of the counties are not included in a human service zone. The board of county commissioners shall submit a plan as prescribed in section 50-01.1-04. The department shall approve the plan in accordance with section 50-01.1-04 within six months of receiving the plan. The board of county commissioners shall provide quarterly updates as requested by the department to the department after the agreement is approved until the plan is submitted as requested. If counties do not submit an agreement or plan or if the agreement or plan is rescinded or terminated by the constituent counties or by the department pursuant to section 50-01.1-02, 50-01.1-04, or 50-01.1-08, the department shall create the human service zone. The department shall establish the date the approved agreement or plan takes effect.

4.    The agreement and proposed plan must be approved or disapproved by the department in accordance with section 50-01.1-03.

5.    A county with a population exceeding sixty thousand individuals according to the 2010 United States census may submit an agreement and proposed plan to operate as a single human service zone or to consolidate with other counties into a human service zone.

6.    Counties shall consider leveraging existing cooperative agreements between county agencies and shall consider how to collaborate to best meet local need, promote efficiency, service delivery, and ensure quality service.

7.    Counties’ plan must allow nonresidents of the participating counties of a human service zone to access human services.

8.    Counties’ plan must continue to provide funding for indirect costs associated with the service delivery of human services pursuant to chapter 50-35.

9.    Counties’ plan must set forth that the human service zone director may hire and impose disciplinary actions on a human service zone team member. The counties’ plan must specify any role transitions for human service zone team members as well as the procedures for team member grievances, appeals, and disciplinary actions. The counties’ plan must also permit the department authority to reduce full-time equivalent positions in combination with a transfer of the positions or a human service zone team member’s separation from employment. The component of the plan developed under this subsection must be consistent with merit system requirements, chapter 54-44.3 and corresponding rules, and the template developed by the department for the human service zone plans under section 50-06-01.4.

10.    The counties’ plan must specify that reductions in access points may only be made with agreement of the human service zone board, the county commissions of affected counties, and the department.

11.    The counties’ plan must include information regarding the human service zone’s liability coverage for the human service zone board, human service zone director,    human service zone team members, human service zone property, and any unique contractual relationships with the state, other human service zones, or other entities.

12.    Counties’ plan must include a statement of agreement between the human service zone and the department allowing for review of proposed transfers of staff from the human service zone to the department, from the department to the human service zone, or among other human service zones. Approval by human service zone board or the county commissions is not required.

13.    Counties’ plan must include a description of all unique locally provided programs and services that the counties are proposing to continue to provide within the human service zone and to be funded under this plan.

14.    Counties’ agreement and plan must set forth the membership of the human service zone board of a human service zone. The human service zone board may not consist of more than fifteen members, as determined by the boards of county commissioners.