R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-55-3 — Definitions

The words defined in this section have the meanings established in this section whenever
they appear in this chapter:
(1) “Business” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, individual,
sole proprietorship, joint stock company, joint venture, or any other legal entity
through which business is legally conducted or any successors or assigns of the legal
entity.
(2) “First year wages” means the Rhode Island wages or Rhode Island salary of the newly-hired
employee and actually paid by the business for a period of three hundred sixty-five
(365) days from the employee’s first day of work as evidenced by the W-2(s) provided
by the claimant’s business for the calendar year into which the time period falls;
provided, that wages subject to the incentive shall be reduced by any direct state
or federal assistance.
(3) “Tax incentives” or “incentive” means a deduction or modification in computed taxes
owed by a claimant’s business.
(4) “Paid employment” means a period of time during which an employee has been hired by
a business and is receiving Rhode Island wages or salaries for his or her service.
(5) “Unemployed” for the purposes of this chapter means and refers to an individual who
attests that he or she is not working, and:
(i) Has received unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to chapter 44 of title 28 or any similar laws of another state any time within a one year period preceding
the date of hire; or
(ii) Has been a recipient of the state of Rhode Island’s aid to families with dependent
children program pursuant to chapter 6 of title 40 for a minimum of a one year period preceding the date of hire.