As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Appointing authority” means a commissioner, department, officer or agency having power to make appointments to, and separations from, positions in state service;
(2) “Board of appeals” refers to the state employees' appeals board established by § 8-30-108 of this chapter;
(3) “Class” or “class of positions” means a group of positions in state service determined by the commissioner to have sufficiently similar duties, authority, and responsibility such that: The same qualifications may be reasonably required for; and
(4) The same schedule of pay may be equitably applied to; all positions in the group;
(5) “Commissioner” refers to the commissioner of human resources appointed under § 8-30-104;
(6) “Department” refers to the department of human resources pursuant to § 8-30-104. The term includes the commissioner;
(7) “Eligible” means an applicant meeting minimum qualifications whose name is on a list;
(8) “Executive service” means all other positions that have not been placed under the preferred service and as are described in § 8-30-202;
(9) “List” means a list of eligibles, including, but not limited to, a promotion list;
(10) “List of eligibles” means a list of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for appointment to a position as determined by the department;
(11) “Official station” means the town or city where the employee performs a majority of the employee's duties;
(12) “Preferred service” means all offices and positions of employment in the state service that have been placed under the preferred service provisions of this chapter;
(13) “State agency” means an authority, board, branch, commission, committee, department, division, or other instrumentality in state service that is subject to this chapter; and
(14) “State service” shall have the same meaning assigned in § 8-30-102(a).