(1) “Applicant” means any person who has applied for benefits under this part;

(2) “Area manager” means the director or manager of the county or area office of the department of human services;

(3) “Assistance” or “food assistance” means food stamp coupons, free food stamps or food purchase assistance that is issued or transferred by means of food coupons, food stamps, electronic benefits transfer processes or other means as determined by the department to an eligible household or low-income family pursuant to this part;

(4) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of human services;

(5) “County office” means the county office of the department of human services in the county where the applicant or recipient resides and in which county a food stamp program is currently in operation;

(6) “Department” means the department of human services;

(7) “Food coupons” or “food stamps” means obligations of the United States government issued or transferred by means of food coupons or food stamps to enable the purchase of food for the eligible household;

(8)

(A) “Food stamp program or programs” includes the program that enables persons determined eligible for the provision of assistance by the governments of the United States or the state of Tennessee pursuant to this part, to purchase foodstuffs and includes food coupons, food stamps, electronic benefits transfer processes or other means as may be approved for this purpose by the department;

(B) The commissioner of human services shall have authority to establish a system for distribution of any benefits provided by this part by means of an electronic benefits transfer system or by such other means as the commissioner shall determine is appropriate;

(9) “Recipient” means any person who has been determined to be eligible to receive benefits under this part and who has received such benefits; and

(10) “Resident,” for the purpose of this part, means any individual who is living within a county in this state in which a food stamp program is in operation, with the intent that such individual's permanent home be within the county, and not temporarily. The department shall adopt rules and regulations under which it shall make this determination; provided, that temporary absences from the state or county shall not cause a person to lose residential status.