In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.    “Blanket bond” means a bond that covers collectively all public employees and public officials without the necessity of scheduling names or positions as a part of the bond, and a bond whereby new public employees and new public officials entering employment or office during the period of the bond are automatically included without notice to the fund.

2.    “Fund” means the state bonding fund.

3.    “International peace garden” means an entity located upon the international boundary line between the United States and Canada used and maintained as a memorial to commemorate the long-existing relationship of peace and good will between the people and the governments of the United States and Canada and to further international peace among the nations of the world.

4.    “Political subdivision” means a county, township, park district, school district, city, and any other unit of local government which is created either by statute or by the Constitution of North Dakota for local government or other public purposes.

5.    “Public employee” means an individual employed by a state agency or any political subdivision, an officer or employee eligible under section 57-15-56, an employee under section 61-16.1-05, and an officer or employee of an international peace garden. “Public employee” does not include an individual employed by an occupational and professional board or commission under title 43 or by the state bar association.

6.    “Public official” means an elected or appointed officer or deputy of a state agency or a political subdivision, except for an officer of an occupational and professional board or commission under title 43 or of the state bar association.

7.    “State agency” means a state board, bureau, commission, department, agency, industry, and institution and the international peace garden.