North Dakota § 50-35-01 - Definitions

§ 50-35-01. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Department" means the department of health and human services. 2. "Director" means the commissioner of the department or the commissioner's designee. 3. "Direct costs" means costs that are charged directly to the human service zone human services fund. Direct costs are costs related directly to human service zone team members or human service zone services, including compensation, fringe benefits, and operating costs that are approved by the department and not identified by the department as an indirect cost. 4. "Economic assistance" means those primary economic assistance programs that need to be accessible to all citizens of the state through a human service zone, including: a. Temporary assistance for needy families; b. Employment and training programs; c. Child care assistance programs; d. Medical assistance, including early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment; e. Supplemental nutrition assistance programs, including employment and training programs; f. Refugee assistance programs; g. Basic care services; h. Energy assistance programs; and i. Information and referral. 5. "Human service zone" means a county or consolidated group of counties administering human services within a designated area in accordance with an agreement or plan approved by the department. 6. "Human service zone director" means a human service zone team member who oversees the human service zone's operation and budget and serves as presiding officer of the human service zone board. 7. "Human services" means: a. A service or assistance provided to an individual or an individual's family in need of services or assistance, including child welfare services, economic assistance programs, medical service programs, and aging service programs, to assist the individual or the individual's family in achieving and maintaining basic self-sufficiency, including physical health, mental health, education, welfare, food and nutrition, and housing. b. A service or assistance provided, administered, or supervised by the department in accordance with chapter 50-06. c. Licensing duties as administered or supervised by the department or delegated by the department to a human service zone. 8. "Indirect costs" means salaries, benefits, and operating costs incurred in providing those goods and services to support human services that are generally available for the common benefit of multiple county agencies which are not identified by the department as a direct cost. Indirect costs include legal representation; facilities and related costs, such as utilities and maintenance; remodeling, construction, and improvement costs; administrative support, including payroll, accounting, banking, and coordination; information technology support and equipment; and miscellaneous goods and services, such as transportation, supplies, insurance coverage, phone, and mail services. Indirect costs may not include non-space and non-facility costs and expenses that are exclusively attributable to the human service zones.