Section 18-4-2 - DefinitionsAs used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) COMPARABLE REPLACEMENT DWELLING. Any dwelling that is decent, safe, and sanitary; adequate in size to accommodate the occupants; within the financial means of the displaced person; functionally equivalent; in an area not subject to unreasonable adverse environmental conditions; and in a location generally not less desirable than the location of the dwelling of a displaced person with respect to public utilities, facilities, services, and the place of employment of a displaced person.(2) DISPLACED PERSON.a. Any person who moves from a dwelling on real property or moves his or her personal property from a dwelling on real property as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire or the acquisition of the real property, in whole or in part, for any program or project undertaken by a state agency, or other displacing activity as the state agency may prescribe, under a program or project undertaken by the state agency in any case in which the state agency determines that the displacement is permanent.b. The term "displaced person" does not include a person who has been determined, according to criteria established by the state agency, to be either in unlawful occupancy of the displacement dwelling or to have occupied the dwelling for the purpose of obtaining assistance under this chapter, or in any case which the state agency acquires property for a program or project, any person, other than a person who was an occupant of the property at the time it was acquired, who occupies the property on a rental basis for a short term or a period subject to termination when the property is needed for the program or project.(3) MORTGAGE. The classes of liens as are commonly given to secure advances on, or the unpaid purchase price of, real property, together with the credit instruments, if any, secured by the mortgage.(4) PERSON. An individual, partnership, corporation, or association.(5) STATE AGENCY. Any permanent or temporary state office, department, division or unit, bureau, board, commission, authority, institution, state college or university, or other unit of state government, whether executive, legislative, or judicial, which has the authority to acquire property by eminent domain under state law and which carries out projects with federal or state financial assistance that cause people to be displaced, but shall not include any unit of local government.Ala. Code § 18-4-2 (1975)