47-15-1. Definitions. Terms used in chapters 47-15 to 47-20, inclusive, mean:

(1) "Articles," articles of incorporation;

(2) "Cooperative," a cooperative corporation which is subject to the provisions of chapters 47-15 to 47-20, inclusive;

(3) "Corporation," a corporation which is not a cooperative;

(4) "Electronic transmission" or "electronically transmitted," any process of communication not directly involving the physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention, retrieval, and reproduction of information by the recipient;

(5) "Entity," a domestic and foreign corporation, limited liability company, partnership, cooperative or other legal entity, trust, domestic and foreign unincorporated entity or association, and bodies politic;

(6) "Foreign cooperative," a cooperative association organized and operated on a cooperative basis under the laws of any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, or of the District of Columbia or any foreign state, province, or country;

(7) "Individual," any natural person;

(8) "Member," a person who has been qualified and accepted for membership in a cooperative;

(9) "Patron," any person who purchases products or services provided in the normal course of the business of a cooperative. The term "patron" does not include a telecommunications company which purchases any products or services from a telecommunications cooperative or pays any fees or settlements to a telecommunications cooperative, other than local telecommunications services; and

(10) "Person," an entity or individual entity.Source: SDC 1939 § 11.1101; SL 1949, ch 23; SL 1965, ch 23, § 1; SL 1987, ch 342; SL 1994, ch 351, § 120; SL 2018, ch 260, § 1.