Section 50-01.1-03 - Manner of determination1. In determining whether the creation of a human service zone should be approved or established, the department shall refer to, among other pertinent factors, the following:a. Whether the affected county agencies are able to supply an adequate level and quality of human, social, and economic assistance services.b. The number and qualifications of staff personnel serving the affected county agencies.c. The ratio of the number of cases handled by the affected county agencies to the number of their staff personnel.d. The geographical area and population served by the affected county agencies.e. The distance of recipients from the affected county agencies.f. The benefits that would be realized from the creation of the human service zone in terms of lower costs, increased availability of services, new services, and improvement of services.g. The amount of current and future access points for individuals to apply for and receive services within a human service zone.h. The existing pattern of the counties trade area and any regional pattern established by the department.i. Whether the county has a population exceeding sixty thousand individuals according to the 2010 United States census to operate as a single human service zone and whether it is in the best interest of the neighboring counties.j. The maximum number of human service zones created may not exceed nineteen.k. Whether the human service zone director can adequately supervise the activities and operations of the human service zone.l. Whether the human service zone board is constituted of individuals that represent the population of the human service zone.2. The department has final approval of a human service zone. The department may establish or modify a human service zone based on the criteria set forth in subsection 1. All human service zones must be initially approved or established by January 1, 2020, and may be rescinded or terminated pursuant to sections 50-01.1-02, 50-01.1-04, or 50-01.1-08, modified thereafter by the department, or approved by the department through a process developed by the department and in accordance with section 50-01.1-02.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 417( HB 1046 ), § 3, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by S.L. 2019 , ch. 391( SB 2124 ), § 63, eff. 7/1/2019.