§ 921. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

1. "Applicant" means an eligible employer which submits an application under subdivision two of section nine hundred twenty-two of this article.

2. "Eligible employer" means a sole proprietor or an employer of between one and fifty full-time employees, who has not within the twelve-month period prior to the effective date of this section provided group health insurance benefits to any employee associated with the employers' business.

3. "Small business health insurance partnership program" means a program which assists employers in providing health care coverage under subdivision two of section nine hundred twenty-two of this article.

4. "Small group health insurance policy" means a group health insurance policy or comprehensive health services plan issued on a community-rated, open-enrolled basis pursuant to article thirty-two or forty-three of the insurance law by an insurer licensed pursuant to article forty-one or forty-two of the insurance law, a corporation organized pursuant to article forty-three of the insurance law, or a health maintenance organization certified pursuant to article forty-four of the public health law; provided, however, in no event shall premiums be used to purchase riders to policies or to purchase non-comprehensive policies.

5. "Incentive payment" means the payment of the portion of the premium for a small group health insurance policy obtained through the small business health insurance partnership program.

6. "Partnership certificate" means a certificate evidencing the approval of an application from an eligible employer which is issued prior to January first, two thousand.

7. "Full-time employee" means an employee who works twenty or more hours per week.