The following terms hereafter used in this article shall have the following respective meanings:

(1) AUTHORITY. The public corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(2) BONDS. The bonds issued under the provisions of this article.

(3) COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of Mental Health.

(4) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Mental Health provided for in Chapter 50 of Subtitle 2 of Title 22.

(5) DIRECTORS. The board of directors of the authority.

(6) MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES. Any one or more of the following: hospitals and other facilities of any kind for treatment and care of the mentally ill and individuals with an intellectual disability; regional or community-based mental health centers; regional or community-based facilities for treatment and care of the mentally ill or individuals with an intellectual disability; regional or community-based centers for the treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction; and improvements to existing state hospitals or other facilities for the treatment and care of the mentally ill and individuals with an intellectual disability.

(7) COMMUNITY FACILITIES. Facilities operated by regional community mental health boards established pursuant to Section 22-51-2, community mental health centers, associations for retarded citizens and community substance abuse programs certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health that provide services for the treatment and care of individuals with mental or emotional illnesses, intellectual disability, alcoholism or drug addiction.

(8) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. The Mental Health Capital Outlay Oversight Committee created in Section 22-50-25.

(9) PERMITTED INVESTMENTS. United States securities, certificates of deposit fully secured by United States securities and shall include investments in such obligations of the United States of America or its agencies under a repurchase agreement.

(10) UNITED STATES SECURITIES. Direct general obligations of the United States of America (including obligations of the state and local government series) and the obligations of any other agency or corporation which has been or may hereafter be created by or pursuant to an act of the Congress of the United States as an agency or instrumentality thereof, the bonds, debentures, participation certificates or notes of which are unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America.

(11) RETIREMENT SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA. The State Employees' Retirement System created pursuant to Chapter 27 of Title 36, and the Teachers' Retirement System created pursuant to Chapter 25 of Title 16.

The definitions hereinabove set forth shall be deemed applicable whether the words defined are used in the singular or the plural. Any pronoun or pronouns used herein shall be deemed to include both the singular and the plural and to cover all genders.