(1) "Applicable fiscal year" or "applicable state fiscal year" means the state fiscal year that commences July 1 after the conclusion of the regular legislative session. For example, during the 2015 regular legislative session, the "applicable fiscal year" means the 2015-16 fiscal year.

(1.5) "Area technical college" has the same meaning as provided in section 23-60-103 (1).

(2) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education established pursuant to section 23-1-102.

(3) "Community college" means a community and technical college described in section 23-60-205 that is governed by the state board for community colleges and occupational education or the board of trustees for Colorado Mesa university.

(4) "Department" means the Colorado department of higher education established pursuant to section 24-1-114, C.R.S.

(5) "Local district college" means a local district college operating pursuant to article 71 of this title.

(6) "Master plan" means the master plan created pursuant to section 23-1-108.

(7) "Pell-eligible student" means an undergraduate student who qualifies for the federal Pell grant or for a grant through a successor program.

(7.5) "Preceding fiscal year" or "preceding state fiscal year" means the state fiscal year that ends immediately before the "applicable fiscal year". For example, during the 2015 regular legislative session, the "preceding fiscal year" means the 2014-15 fiscal year.

(8) "State institution of higher education" or "institution" has the same meaning as defined in section 23-18-102 (10).

(9) "Total governing board appropriation":

(a) For the "applicable fiscal year" or "applicable state fiscal year", has the same meaning as the "total state appropriation" for the "applicable fiscal year", as defined in subsection (10)(a) of this section, as applied to a governing board.

(b) For the "preceding fiscal year" or "preceding state fiscal year", has the same meaning as the "total state appropriation" for the "preceding fiscal year", as defined in subsection (10)(b) of this section, as applied to a governing board.

(10) "Total state appropriation" means:

(a) For the "preceding fiscal year" or "preceding state fiscal year", the sum of:

(I) The total amount appropriated in the annual general appropriations act for the preceding fiscal year to the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education for fee-for-service contracts determined pursuant to section 23-18-303 and the amount of the appropriation to the college opportunity fund established in section 23-18-202 for student stipends. This amount is the amount as enacted during the legislative session in which the act was initially adopted, unless otherwise specified in a supplemental appropriations act.

(II) Appropriations pursuant to sections 23-18-202 and 23-18-303 that were included in acts other than the annual general appropriations act for the preceding fiscal year that were enacted during the same legislative session as the annual general appropriations act, unless the act otherwise specifies.

(b) For the "applicable fiscal year" or "applicable state fiscal year", the total amount appropriated in the annual general appropriations act for the fiscal year to the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education for fee-for-service contracts determined pursuant to section 23-18-303 and the amount of the appropriation to the college opportunity fund established in section 23-18-202 for student stipends. This amount includes only the amounts enacted in the annual general appropriations act as initially enacted, unless a supplemental appropriations act or another act otherwise specifies. The total state appropriation for the applicable fiscal year excludes any out-year costs or savings from legislation adopted in previous years that the general assembly determines were not accounted for in the preceding fiscal year's appropriations.