Terms Used In California Codes > Public Utilities Code > Division 10 > Part 13 > Chapter 4 > Article 1 - General

• City: includes city and county and "incorporated town" but does not include "unincorporated town" or "village. See California Public Utilities Code 19
• Conference committee: A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of conferees from both chamber of a legislature which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• department: means the Department of Veterans Affairs. See California Military and Veterans Code 690
• Effective rate of interest: means the average rate of interest on the unpaid balance due on a participation contract to which the department's legal rights are subject, and the rate of interest on the unpaid balance of the purchase price, as determined by the department. See California Military and Veterans Code 987.53
• Farm: means a tract of land, which, in the opinion of the department, is capable of producing sufficient income to provide payment of the amortized contract installments, including principal, interest, and taxes. See California Military and Veterans Code 987.53
• 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.
• Home: includes all of the following:

  California Military and Veterans Code 987.53

• 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}
• 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}
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Purchaser: means a veteran or any person who has entered into a contract of purchase of a farm or home from the department. See California Military and Veterans Code 987.53
• Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Military and Veterans Code 19
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.