Sec.17-606a-2. Definitions

The following terms, as used in Section 17-606a-1 to Section 17-606a-11 inclusive, are defined as follows:

(a) "Applicant" means any individual who has signed and submitted an application for a loan.

(b) "Assistive equipment" means any device, implement or item, including vehicle and home modifications, which is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities and assist such individuals to improve their quality of life, access employment opportunities and/or become or continue to be productive members of the community.

(c) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of The Department of Human Resources.

(d) "Compensation" means margin and/or fees customarily collected by lending institutions for the administration and servicing of loans.

(e) "Department" means the Department of Human Resources.

(f) "Disability" means any physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

(g) "Discretionary income" means the balance of income remaining after calculating the applicant's total monthly income as specified on the application and subtracting therefrom the total of the applicant's monthly expenses as specified on the application submitted.

(h) "Family" means a household consisting of the applicant or the applicant and one or more persons residing with the applicant including parent(s), a parent's spouse, and their minor children who reside together, or the supervising relatives, a supervising relative's spouse and their minor children who reside together; except that a foster child shall be considered a family of one.

(i) "Fiduciary agent" means any organization, entity or individual with which the Department of Human Resources establishes a contract to review loan applications, close loans and administer, service and document loans.

(j) "Income" means wages, interest, dividends, capital gains, retirement income, public and private assistance and disability payments, workers' compensation, rents and other forms of remuneration or compensation.

(k) "Income group" means one of the following household groups, adjusted by family size and based on the appropriate Connecticut median income, as determined by the Commissioner on July 1 of each year: (1) households with incomes 25 percent or less of the Connecticut median income; (2) households with incomes more than twenty five percent but not more than 50 percent of the Connecticut median income; (3) households with incomes more than 50 percent but not more than 75 percent of the Connecticut median income; (4) households with incomes more than 75 percent of Connecticut median income but not more that 100 percent of the Connecticut median income and (5) households with incomes more than one hundred percent of the area median income.

(l) "Independent Living Center" means an organization or non-profit agency, governed by a Board of Directors whose membership includes at least 51 percent persons with disabilities, and managed and staffed primarily by individuals with disabilities. Such centers provide at minimum peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills training and information and referral services to individuals with disabilities.

(m) "Eligible Individual" means an individual with a disability, as defined in Section 17-606a-2(f), who shall benefit from assistive equipment.

(n) "Loan" means a loan from the Assistive Technology Loan Fund.

(o) "Loan Fund" means the Assistive Technology Loan Fund.

(p) "Peer counselor" means individuals with disabilities, knowledgeable in assistive technology, who provide guidance, advocacy, and information and referral to persons interested in exploring assistive technology options, including the Assistive Technology Revolving Fund.

(q) "Pre-approved loan" means a loan application which has received, from the peer counselor, a non-binding recommendation for funding pending verification of information and final approval by the fiduciary agent.

(Effective July 13, 1993)