[§349F-1]  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older, or an emancipated minor.

     "Aging adult" means a person who is sixty-five years of age or older.

     "Assist" means helping a qualified adult consider the advantages and disadvantages of a decision and understand the possible outcomes of making that decision.

     "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities or a record of such an impairment.

     "Member of the supportive community" means a person whom the qualified adult has identified, whom the qualified adult trusts to engage in the supported decision-making process, and who understands the qualified adult's desires and personal values.

     "Mentally ill adult" means an adult who has a psychiatric disorder or other disease that substantially impairs the adult's mental health and necessitates treatment or supervision.

     "Personal information" means information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, either alone or when combined with other information, that is linked or linkable to a specific individual.

     "Qualified adult" means an adult with a disability, a mentally ill adult, or an aging adult.

     "Supported decision-making" means a process where a qualified adult has made or is making decisions by using friends, family members, professionals, or other people the qualified adult trusts to:

     (1)  Help understand the issues and choices;

     (2)  Answer questions;

     (3)  Provide explanations in a language the qualified adult understands;

     (4)  Communicate the qualified adult's decision to others, if necessary and if specifically requested by the qualified adult; or

     (5)  Facilitate the exercise of decisions regarding the qualified adult's day-to-day health, safety, welfare, or financial affairs.

     "Supported decision-making agreement" or "agreement" means a voluntary agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter between a qualified adult and one or more members of the supportive community.

     "Vulnerable adult" has the same meaning as defined in section 346-222. [L 2025, c 284, pt of §1]