Terms Used In California Codes > Health and Safety Code > Division 102 > Part 1 - VITAL RECORDS

• Abandoned: means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision. See California Family Code 3402
• abuse: means any of the following:

  California Penal Code 16120

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Agency: means the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. See California Health and Safety Code 35805
• agency: means any city, county, district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision of the state involved with water management. See California Water Code 13452
• Agreement: means any agreement or contract for financial assistance from the state board to an eligible recipient, including, but not limited to, a loan, grant, installment sale agreement, contract, or other form of agreement made for the purpose of providing financial assistance. See California Water Code 13491
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• ammunition: includes , but is not limited to, any bullet, cartridge, magazine, clip, speed loader, autoloader, ammunition feeding device, or projectile capable of being fired from a firearm with a deadly consequence. See California Penal Code 16150
• Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
• Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• application to purchase: means either of the following:

  California Penal Code 16190

• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• ballistic knife: means a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas. See California Penal Code 16220
• Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• Bequeath: To gift property by will.
• Bequest: Property gifted by will.
• Bird: means a wild bird or part of a wild bird. See California Fish and Game Code 22
• Board: means the State Water Resources Control Board. See California Water Code 13452
• bonds: includes , but is not limited to, any bonds, notes, bond anticipation notes, interim certificates, debentures, certificates of participation, refunding bonds, or other obligations issued by an agency pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 33000), and §. See California Health and Safety Code 34162
• cane gun: means any firearm mounted or enclosed in a stick, staff, rod, crutch, or similar device, designed to be, or capable of being used as, an aid in walking, if the firearm may be fired while mounted or enclosed therein. See California Penal Code 16330
• Case law: The law as laid down in cases that have been decided in the decisions of the courts.
• Casualty broker-agent: means a person licensed pursuant to Section 1625. See California Insurance Code 33.5
• CCW: means "carry concealed weapons. See California Penal Code 16360
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• Chief plant operator: means the person designated by the owner of the wastewater treatment plant as the person responsible for the overall operation of the wastewater treatment plant, including compliance with effluent limitations established in the wastewater treatment plant's waste discharge requirements. See California Water Code 13625
• child: means a person under 18 years of age. See California Penal Code 25000
• Child: means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age. See California Family Code 3402
• Child custody determination: means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child. See California Family Code 3402
• Child custody proceeding: means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue. See California Family Code 3402
• Commencement: means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding. See California Family Code 3402
• Commission: means the Fish and Game Commission, and "commissioner" means a member of the Fish and Game Commission. See California Fish and Game Code 30
• Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner of this State. See California Insurance Code 20
• Committee: means the Water Conservation and Water Quality Finance Committee created by Section 13454. See California Water Code 13452
• Committee membership: Legislators are assigned to specific committees by their party. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.
• Community estate: includes both community property and quasi-community property. See California Family Code 63
• Community water system: means a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by yearlong residents or regularly serves at least 25 yearlong residents of the area served by the system. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Complaint: means a complaint or cross-complaint. See California Code of Civil Procedure 426.10
• composite knuckles: means any device or instrument made wholly or partially of composite materials, other than a medically prescribed prosthetic, that is not metal knuckles, that is worn for purposes of offense or defense in or on the hand, and that either protects the wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the force of impact from the blow or injury to the individual receiving the blow. See California Penal Code 16405
• Conferees: Legislators appointed to serve on conference committees. They are also called "managers." Conferees are usually appointed from the committee or committees that reported the legislation; they are expected to try and uphold their chamber's position on measures when they negotiate with conferees from the other chamber.
• Contaminant: means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Coordinator: means the Model Cities Coordinator. See California Health and Safety Code 36105
• County: includes city and county. See California Water Code 14
• County: includes "city and county. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Health and Safety Code 14
• County: includes "city and county. See California Insurance Code 14
• county: includes "city and county". See California Penal Code 7
• County: includes city and county. See California Family Code 67
• County: includes city and county. See California Fish and Game Code 32
• Court: means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child custody determination. See California Family Code 3402
• court-appointed investigator: means a probation officer, domestic relations investigator, or court-appointed evaluator directed by the court to conduct an investigation pursuant to this chapter. See California Family Code 3110
• custody: means the legal right to custody of the child unless that right is held jointly by two or more persons, in which case "custody" means the physical custody of the child by one of the persons sharing the right to custody. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 17.1
• Customer: means a person or entity that purchases water from a retail water supplier. See California Water Code 13575
• dagger: means a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. See California Penal Code 16470
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Date of separation: means the date that a complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred, as evidenced by both of the following:

  California Family Code 70

• Day: means calendar day, and "week" means calendar week. See California Fish and Game Code 35
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• department: means State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 20
• Department: means the Department of Water Resources. See California Water Code 13452
• Department: means the state board. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Department: means the State Department of Developmental Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• Department: means the Department of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 37
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Deputy director: means the deputy director appointed by the state board pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 116271. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Director: means "State Director of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 21
• Director: means the Director of Developmental Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• Director: means the Director of Fish and Wildlife. See California Fish and Game Code 39
• Disadvantaged community: means the entire service area of a community water system, or a community therein, in which the median household income is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income level. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• District: means fish and game district. See California Fish and Game Code 41
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Documentary evidence: as used in this chapter , is defined as original or certified copies of a record that was executed at least five years prior to the date of application, and that substantiates the date and place of birth of the person whose birth is being registered. See California Health and Safety Code 102580
• Domestic: means organized under the laws of this State, whether or not admitted. See California Insurance Code 26
• domestic violence: means abuse perpetrated against any of the following persons:

  California Penal Code 16490

• Donor: The person who makes a gift.
• ecological reserve: means land or land and water areas that are designated as an ecological reserve by the commission pursuant to Section 1580 and that are to be preserved in a natural condition, or which are to be provided some level of protection as determined by the commission, for the benefit of the general public to observe native flora and fauna and for scientific study or research. See California Fish and Game Code 1584
• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Entity responsible for groundwater replenishment: means any person or entity authorized by statute or court order to manage a groundwater basin and acquire water for groundwater replenishment. See California Water Code 13575
• Escheat: Reversion of real or personal property to the state when 1) a person dies without leaving a will and has no heirs, or 2) when the property (such as a bank account) has been inactive for a certain period of time. ^{Source: OCC}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. ^{Source: OCC}
• Financial institution: includes any bank, savings and loan association, or other institution in this state, including a public agency, that regularly makes, arranges, or purchases loans for the purchase, construction, rehabilitation, improvement, or refinancing of housing accommodations. See California Health and Safety Code 35805
• firearm: includes the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part:

  California Penal Code 16520

• firearm safety certificate: means a certificate issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to Sections 31610 to 31700, inclusive, or pursuant to former Article 8 (commencing with Section 12800) of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of Part 4, as that article was operative at any time from January 1, 2003, until it was repealed by the Deadly Weapons Recodification Act of 2010. See California Penal Code 16535
• firearm safety device: means a device other than a gun safe that locks and is designed to prevent children and unauthorized users from firing a firearm. See California Penal Code 16540
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Fish: means a wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals. See California Fish and Game Code 45
• Fishery: means both of the following:

  California Fish and Game Code 94

• Fund: means the 1986 Water Conservation and Water Quality Bond Fund. See California Water Code 13452
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. ^{Source: Federal Reserve}
• Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• gun safe: means a locking container that fully contains and secures one or more firearms, and that meets the standards for gun safes adopted pursuant to Section 23650. See California Penal Code 16610
• handgun: means any pistol, revolver, or firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. See California Penal Code 16640
• hard wooden knuckles: means any device or instrument made wholly or partially of wood or paper products that is not metal knuckles, that is worn for purposes of offense or defense in or on the hand, and that either protects the wearer's hand while striking a blow, or increases the force of impact from the blow or injury to the individual receiving the blow. See California Penal Code 16680
• Home state: means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding. See California Family Code 3402
• Housing accommodation: includes any improved or unimproved real property, or portion thereof, that (1) is used or is intended to be used as a residence, and (2) is or will be occupied by the owner, and (3) contains not more than four dwelling units. See California Health and Safety Code 35805
• Human consumption: means the use of water for drinking, bathing or showering, hand washing, oral hygiene, or cooking, including, but not limited to, preparing food and washing dishes. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• immediate family member: means either of the following relationships:

  California Penal Code 16720

• In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
• In-lieu recharge: means accomplishing increased storage of groundwater by providing interruptible surface water to a user who relies on groundwater as a primary supply, to accomplish groundwater storage through the direct use of that surface water in lieu of pumping groundwater. See California Water Code 13452
• Income and expense declaration: means the form for an income and expense declaration in family law matters adopted by the Judicial Council. See California Family Code 95
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Individual user of an illegal controlled substance: means the individual whose use of a specified illegal controlled substance is the basis of an action brought under this division. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Initial determination: means the first child custody determination concerning a particular child. See California Family Code 3402
• injection well: means any bored, drilled, or driven shaft, dug pit, or hole in the ground into which waste or fluid is discharged, and any associated subsurface appurtenances, and the depth of which is greater than the circumference of the shaft, pit, or hole. See California Water Code 13051
• institutions: include every hospital, sanitarium, boarding home, or other place receiving or caring for developmentally disabled persons. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4416
• insurance agent: as used in this chapter does not include a life agent as defined in this article. See California Insurance Code 1621
• Insurance broker: means a person who, for compensation and on behalf of another person, transacts insurance other than life, disability, or health with, but not on behalf of, an insurer. See California Insurance Code 33
• Insurance solicitor: means a natural person employed to aid a property and casualty broker-agent acting as an insurance agent or insurance broker in transacting insurance other than life, disability, or health. See California Insurance Code 34
• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Irrevocable trust: A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked, rescinded, or repealed by the grantor.
• Issuing court: means the court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this part. See California Family Code 3402
• Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
• knowingly: import s only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See California Penal Code 7
• Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• library trustees: as used in this chapter mean the regularly elected union high school trustees who reside within the library district. See California Education Code 18300
• license: shall include a permit or a certificate issued by a state agency. See California Penal Code 23
• license: includes a certificate of convenience and a permanent license, and the term "persons who are licensed" includes the holders of any such certificate or the license, but these definitions and the use of those terms in this chapter shall not confer upon a certificate of convenience or any holder thereof any property right in or to the certificate, the certificate being and remaining only a temporary permit, issued as a matter of convenience, allowing the transaction of insurance without a permanent license, but within the limits, and subject to the conditions of the certificate of convenience issued and the laws applicable thereto. See California Insurance Code 1627
• licensee: means an insurer, agent, broker, or any other person who is required to be licensed by the department. See California Insurance Code 38.6
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Life and disability insurance analyst: means a person who, for a fee or compensation of any kind, paid by or derived from any person or source other than an insurer, advises, purports to advise, or offers to advise any person insured under, named as beneficiary of, or having any interest in, a life or disability insurance contract, in any manner concerning that contract or his or her rights in respect thereto. See California Insurance Code 32.5
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• loans: include , but are not limited to, agreements with the community or any other entity for the purpose of refinancing a redevelopment project and moneys advanced to the agency by the community or any other entity for the expenses of redevelopment planning, expenses for dissemination of redevelopment information, other administrative expenses, and overhead of the agency. See California Health and Safety Code 34162
• Local health officer: means a local health officer appointed pursuant to Section 101000 or a local comprehensive health agency designated by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 101275 to carry out the drinking water program. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Local primacy agency: means a local health officer that has applied for and received primacy delegation pursuant to Section 116330. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• locked container: means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar locking device. See California Penal Code 16850
• machinegun: means any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot, or can readily be restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. See California Penal Code 16880
• magistrate: signifies any one of the officers mentioned in Section 808. See California Penal Code 7
• Mammal: means a wild or feral mammal or part of a wild or feral animal, but not a wild, feral, or undomesticated burro. See California Fish and Game Code 54
• mandatory supervision: shall mean the portion of a defendant's sentenced term during which time he or she is supervised by the county probation officer pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. See California Penal Code 19.9
• Marketing of illegal controlled substances: means the possession for sale, sale, or distribution of a specified illegal controlled substance, and shall include all aspects of making such a controlled substance available, including, but not limited to, its manufacture. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Maximum contaminant level: means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• metal knuckles: means any device or instrument made wholly or partially of metal that is worn for purposes of offense or defense in or on the hand and that either protects the wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the force of impact from the blow or injury to the individual receiving the blow. See California Penal Code 16920
• Mile: means either a statute mile (5,280 feet) or a nautical mile (6,077 feet) depending on the application. See California Fish and Game Code 55
• Modification: means a child custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the previous determination. See California Family Code 3402
• Mortgage: includes a trust deed, "mortgagor" includes a trustor under such trust deed, "mortgagee" includes a beneficiary under such trust deed, or a trustee exercising powers or performing duties granted to or imposed upon him thereunder, and "lien" in respect to real or personal property includes a charge or incumbrance arising out of a trust deed. See California Insurance Code 29
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
• National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. ^{Source: OCC}
• National Credit Union Administration: The federal regulatory agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. (NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the deposits of federal credit unions.) ^{Source: OCC}
• Net: means any gear made of any kind of twine, thread, string, rope, wire, wood, or other materials used for the gilling, entangling, trapping, or impounding of fish. See California Fish and Game Code 56
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Noncommunity water system: means a public water system that is not a community water system. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Oath: includes affirmation. See California Health and Safety Code 17
• Oath: includes affirmation. See California Military and Veterans Code 15
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Operates: means actions or decisions to control performance or outcome of one or more wastewater treatment processes and includes the supervision of any other person who acts or makes decisions to control the performance or outcome of one or more wastewater treatment processes. See California Water Code 13625
• order: include a decree, as appropriate under the circumstances. See California Family Code 100
• organization: means any legal entity other than a natural person. See California Insurance Code 1628
• peace officer: signify any one of the officers mentioned in Chapter 4. See California Penal Code 7
• Person: means an individual, governmental entity, corporation, firm, trust, partnership, or incorporated or unincorporated association, existing under or authorized by the laws of this state, another state, or a foreign country. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 19
• Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Health and Safety Code 19
• Person: means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Insurance Code 19
• Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
• Person: includes any city, county, district, the state, and the United States, to the extent authorized by federal law. See California Water Code 13050
• Person: means an individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, limited liability company, municipality, public utility, or other public body or institution, including the United States to the extent authorized by federal law. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Person: includes a natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or public entity. See California Family Code 105
• Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, or government. See California Family Code 3402
• Person: includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, or organization of any kind. See California Financial Code 18
• Person: means any natural person or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other type of association. See California Fish and Game Code 67
• Person acting as a parent: means a person, other than a parent, who: (1) has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of six consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding. See California Family Code 3402
• personal firearm importer: means an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

  California Penal Code 17000

• Personal property: includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Petitioner: includes plaintiff, where appropriate. See California Family Code 126
• Physical custody: means the physical care and supervision of a child. See California Family Code 3402
• Place of illegal activity: means , in relation to the individual user of an illegal controlled substance, each county in which the individual illegally possesses or uses an illegal controlled substance during the period of the individual's use of an illegal controlled substance. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Place of participation: means , in relation to a defendant in an action brought under this division, each county in which the person participates in the marketing of illegal controlled substances during the period of the person's participation in the marketing of illegal controlled substances. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plaintiff: means a person who files a complaint or cross-complaint. See California Code of Civil Procedure 426.10
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Pollution: means an alteration of the quality of the waters of the state by waste to a degree which unreasonably affects either of the following:

  California Water Code 13050

• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• Primary drinking water standards: means :

  California Health and Safety Code 116275

• Pro per: A slang expression sometimes used to refer to a pro se litigant. It is a corruption of the Latin phrase "in propria persona." ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Probate: Proving a will
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
• Proceeding: includes an action. See California Family Code 110
• Process: signifies a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Project: means all of the following:

  California Water Code 13452

• Property: includes both personal and real property. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• property: includes both real and personal property. See California Penal Code 7
• Property: includes real and personal property and any interest therein. See California Family Code 113
• Property broker-agent: means a person licensed pursuant to Section 1625. See California Insurance Code 33.5
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public health goal: means a goal established by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 116365. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Public water system: means a system for the provision of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances that has 15 or more service connections or regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Purchase: means "buy" as defined in Section 24. See California Fish and Game Code 68
• Qualified nonprofit organization: means an organization with experience in providing financial and technical assistance to disadvantaged communities that is qualified to operate in California and qualified for exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. See California Water Code 13486.5
• Quasi-community property: means all real or personal property, wherever situated, acquired before or after the operative date of this code in any of the following ways:

  California Family Code 125

• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Recipient: means any person or entity that receives any financial assistance from the state board, including, but not limited to, a recipient's contractors or consultants who performs work for a recipient. See California Water Code 13491
• record: includes all or any part of any judgment, decree, order, document, paper, process, or file. See California Code of Civil Procedure 1953
• Recycled water: means water which, as a result of treatment of waste, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is therefor considered a valuable resource. See California Water Code 13050
• Recycled water producer: means any local public entity that produces recycled water. See California Water Code 13575
• Recycled water wholesaler: means any local public entity that distributes recycled water to retail water suppliers and which has constructed, or is constructing, a recycled water distribution system. See California Water Code 13575
• Regional board: means any California regional water quality control board for a region as specified in Section 13200. See California Water Code 13050
• Related cause of action: means a cause of action which arises out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as the cause of action which the plaintiff alleges in his complaint. See California Code of Civil Procedure 426.10
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Resident: means residing in this State, "nonresident" means not residing in this State. See California Insurance Code 30
• Respondent: includes defendant, where appropriate. See California Family Code 127
• Retail water supplier: means any local entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private water company, that provides retail water service. See California Water Code 13575
• Retailer: means the retail water supplier in whose service area is located the property to which a customer requests the delivery of recycled water service. See California Water Code 13575
• Right of survivorship: The ownership rights that result in the acquisition of title to property by reason of having survived other co-owners.
• safety: is a utomatically applied by the pistol, this feature shall not be defeated. See California Penal Code 31900
• Salvageable personal property: means any type of corporeal personalty, new or used, but not including money or evidences of debt. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 148
• seal: includes an impression of such seal upon the paper alone, or upon any substance attached to the paper capable of receiving a visible impression. See California Penal Code 7
• Secondary drinking water standards: means standards that specify maximum contaminant levels that, in the judgment of the state board, are necessary to protect the public welfare. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Secretary: means the Secretary of Business, Consumer Services and Housing. See California Health and Safety Code 35805
• Sell: includes offer or possess for sale, barter, exchange, or trade. See California Fish and Game Code 75
• Service connection: means the point of connection between the customer's piping or constructed conveyance, and the water system's meter, service pipe, or constructed conveyance. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• short-barreled rifle: means any of the following:

  California Penal Code 17170

• short-barreled shotgun: means any of the following:

  California Penal Code 17180

• Significant rise in the bacterial count of water: means a rise in the bacterial count of water that the state board determines, by regulation, represents an immediate danger to the health of water users. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Small water system: means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least two, but not more than 14, service connections and is not a public water system as defined in §. See California Water Code 13486.5
• Specified illegal controlled substance: means cocaine, phencyclidine, heroin, or methamphetamine and any other illegal controlled substance the manufacture, cultivation, importation into this state, transportation, possession for sale, sale, furnishing, administering, or giving away of which is a violation of Section 11351, 11351. See California Health and Safety Code 11703
• Spousal support: means support of the spouse of the obligor. See California Family Code 142
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Health and Safety Code 12.2
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Insurance Code 12.2
• spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Penal Code 7
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by Section 297. See California Family Code 143
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Water Code 18
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Health and Safety Code 23
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Insurance Code 28
• State: includes the District of Columbia and the territories when applied to the different parts of the United States, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
• State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See California Family Code 145
• State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See California Family Code 3402
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Fish and Game Code 83
• State board: means the State Water Resources Control Board. See California Water Code 13050
• State board: means the State Water Resources Control Board. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• State hospital: means any hospital specified in Section 4440. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 4401
• State small water system: means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least 5, but not more than 14, service connections and does not regularly serve drinking water to more than an average of 25 individuals daily for more than 60 days out of the year. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Water Code 10
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Fish and Game Code 73
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Support: refers to a support obligation owing on behalf of a child, spouse, or family, or an amount owing pursuant to Section 17402. See California Family Code 150
• Surplus line broker: means a person licensed under Section 1765 and authorized to do business under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760) of Part 2 of Division 1. See California Insurance Code 47
• switchblade knife: means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife, or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. See California Penal Code 17235
• systematic enforcement: as used in this part , means the enforcement of rehabilitation standards in accordance with a systematic program of making inspections of dwelling structures in accordance with objective criteria for selection or order of selection of dwelling structures to be inspected. See California Health and Safety Code 37912.5
• Take: means hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. See California Fish and Game Code 86
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Tribe: means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village, that is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state. See California Family Code 3402
• Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
• unconventional pistol: means a firearm with both of the following characteristics:

  California Penal Code 17270

• undetectable firearm: means any weapon that meets either of the following requirements:

  California Penal Code 17280

• union high school: shall be deemed to mean unified school district. See California Education Code 18311
• United States: means the United States of America, and in relation to any particular matter includes the officers, agents, employees, agencies, or instrumentalities authorized to act in relation thereto. See California Water Code 20
• unsafe handgun: means any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, for which any of the following is true:

  California Penal Code 31910

• User: means a person using water for domestic purposes. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
• Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• vessel: means a vessel as defined in subdivision (c) of §. See California Penal Code 7
• Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
• wallet gun: means any firearm mounted or enclosed in a case, resembling a wallet, designed to be or capable of being carried in a pocket or purse, if the firearm may be fired while mounted or enclosed in the case. See California Penal Code 17330
• war: shall mean : (a) whenever Congress has declared war and peace has not been formally restored. See California Military and Veterans Code 18
• Warrant: means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child. See California Family Code 3402
• Waste: includes sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, associated with human habitation, or of human or animal origin, or from any producing, manufacturing, or processing operation, including waste placed within containers of whatever nature prior to, and for purposes of, disposal. See California Water Code 13050
• Wastewater certificate: means a certificate of competency issued by the state board stating that a person has met the requirements to be certified for a specific classification and grade level in the certification program. See California Water Code 13625
• Wastewater treatment plant: means any of the following:

  California Water Code 13625

• Water distribution system: means any combination of pipes, tanks, pumps, and other physical features that deliver water from the source or water treatment plant to the consumer. See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Water quality control: means the regulation of any activity or factor which may affect the quality of the waters of the state and includes the prevention and correction of water pollution and nuisance. See California Water Code 13050
• Water quality control plan: consists of a designation or establishment for the waters within a specified area of all of the following:

  California Water Code 13050

• Water quality objectives: means the limits or levels of water quality constituents or characteristics which are established for the reasonable protection of beneficial uses of water or the prevention of nuisance within a specific area. See California Water Code 13050
• Water recycling treatment plant: means a wastewater treatment plant that further treats secondary or tertiary effluent, or both, for the purpose of meeting the uniform statewide recycling criteria established pursuant to Section 13521 for the use of recycled water. See California Water Code 13625
• Waters of the state: means any surface water or groundwater, including saline waters, within the boundaries of the state. See California Water Code 13050
• Waterworks standards: means regulations adopted by the state board entitled "California Waterworks Standards" (Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 64551) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations). See California Health and Safety Code 116275
• Wildlife: means and includes all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability. See California Fish and Game Code 89.5
• will: includes codicil. See California Penal Code 7
• Will: includes codicil. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• writ: signifies an order or precept in writing, issued in the name of the people, or of a court or judicial officer, and the word "process" a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See California Penal Code 7
• Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Writing: includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. See California Financial Code 8