(1) "DD 214" means a Department of Defense Report of Separation form or its predecessor or successor forms;

(2)

(A) "Local government employer" means a municipality, a county, or township of the state that has issued a resolution to implement a veterans' preference employment policy under § 11-15-103.

(B) "Local government employer" does not include the state or a public institution of higher education;

(3)

(A) "Private employer" means a sole proprietor, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity with one (1) or more employees.

(B) "Private employer" does not include the state or a public institution of higher education;

(4) "Spouse of a disabled veteran" means:

(A) The spouse of a veteran who has been classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Benefits Administration as having a permanent total disability rating; and

(B) A United States citizen;

(5) "Surviving spouse" means a spouse of a deceased veteran who is:

(A) Unmarried at the time he or she seeks a veterans' preference under § 11-15-103; and

(B) A United States citizen;

(6) "Veteran" means a person who:

(A) Served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180) days and was discharged or released from active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge;

(B) Was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability; or

(C) As a member of a reserve component under an order to active duty, not to include training, was discharged or released from duty with other than a dishonorable discharge; and

(7) "Veterans' preference employment policy" means a private employer or local government employer's voluntary preference for hiring, promoting, or retaining a veteran, spouse of a disabled veteran, or surviving spouse of a veteran over another equally qualified applicant or employee.