135.712.  Citation of law — definitions. — 1.  Sections 135.712 to 135.719 and sections 166.700 to 166.720 establish the "Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program" to provide options toward ensuring the education of students in this state.

  2.  As used in sections 135.712 to 135.719, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Educational assistance organization", a charitable organization registered in this state that is exempt from federal taxation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that is certified by the state treasurer, and that allocates all of its annual revenue for educational assistance, except as provided in paragraph (i)^* of subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of section 135.714 and as provided in sections 135.712 to 135.719, derived from contributions for which a credit is claimed under sections 135.712 to 135.719;

  (2)  "Parent", a parent, guardian, custodian, or other person with authority to act on behalf of the qualified student;

  (3)  "Program", the Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts program established under sections 135.712 to 135.719 and sections 166.700 to 166.720;

  (4)  "Qualified student", the same meaning as used in section 166.700;

  (5)  "Qualifying contribution", a donation of cash, stocks, bonds, or other marketable securities for purposes of claiming a tax credit under sections 135.712 to 135.719;

  (6)  "Scholarship account", a savings account created by the Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts program;

  (7)  "Taxpayer", any of the following that files a Missouri income tax return and is not a dependent of any other taxpayer:

  (a)  An individual subject to the state income tax imposed by chapter 143;

  (b)  An individual, firm, partner in a firm, corporation, or shareholder in an S corporation doing business in this state and subject to the state income tax imposed by chapter 143; or

  (c)  An express company that pays an annual tax on its gross receipts in this state under chapter 153.