As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) CERTIFIED HISTORIC STRUCTURE. A property located in Alabama which is at least sixty years old, unless the structure is an historic structure located within the boundaries of a National Monument or Park as declared by the United States Congress or the President of the United States, in which case the federal age provisions shall apply, and is certified by the Alabama Historical Commission as being individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or certified by the commission as contributing to the historic significance of a Registered Historic District.

(2) CERTIFIED REHABILITATION. Repairs or alterations to a certified historic structure that is certified by the commission as meeting the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation which meet the requirements contained in Section 47(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or to a certified historic residential structure as defined in subdivision (3).

(3) CERTIFIED HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. A certified historic structure as defined in subdivision (1).

(4) COMMISSION. The Alabama Historical Commission and or its successor.

(5) COMMITTEE. The Historic Tax Credit Evaluating Committee established by this article.

(6) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Revenue or its successor.

(7) OWNER. Any taxpayer filing a State of Alabama income tax return or any entity that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, that:

a. Owns title to a qualified structure, or

b. Owns a leasehold interest in a qualified structure for a term of not less than 39 years.

An owner as defined herein shall not be considered a private user as defined in Section 40-9A-1.

(8) QUALIFIED REHABILITATION EXPENDITURES. Any expenditure as defined under Section 47(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the related regulations thereunder, and other reasonable expenses and costs expended in the rehabilitation of a qualified structure. For certified historic residential structures, this term shall mean expenses incurred by the taxpayer in the certified rehabilitation of a certified historic residential structure, including but not limited to preservation and rehabilitation work done to the exterior of a certified historic residential structure, repair and stabilization of historic structural systems, restoration of historic plaster, energy efficiency measures except insulation in frame walls, repairs or rehabilitation of heating, air conditioning, or ventilation systems, repairs or rehabilitation of electrical or plumbing systems exclusive of new electrical appliances and electrical or plumbing fixtures, and architectural, engineering, and land surveying fees. Qualified rehabilitation expenditures do not include the cost of acquisition of the qualified structure, the personal labor by the owner, or any cost associated with the rehabilitation of an outbuilding of the qualified structure, unless the outbuilding is certified by the commission to contribute to the historical significance of the qualified structure.

(9) QUALIFIED STRUCTURE. Certified historic structures which are certified by the commission as meeting the requirements contained in Section 47(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and to certified historic residential structures as defined herein.

(10) REGISTERED HISTORIC DISTRICT. Any district listed in the National Register of Historic Places and any district which is either of the following:

a. Designated under Alabama or local law as containing criteria which substantially achieves the purpose of preserving and rehabilitating buildings of historic significance to the district.

b. Certified by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as meeting substantially all of the requirements for the listing of districts in the National Register of Historic Places.

(11) REHABILITATION PLAN. Construction plans and specifications for the proposed rehabilitation of a qualified structure in sufficient detail to enable the commission to evaluate compliance with the standards developed under this article.

(12) SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION. Rehabilitation of a qualified structure for which the qualified rehabilitation expenditures exceed 50 percent of the owner’s original purchase price of the qualified structure or twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), whichever is greater.