The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "The act" means the Human Rights Act, Title 49, chapter 2, MCA.

(2) "Charging party" means a person who files a complaint with the human rights bureau of the department of labor and industry (for complaints filed on or after July 1, 1997) or the human rights commission (for complaints filed before July 1, 1997) under 4-2-501 , MCA.

(3) "The code" means the Governmental Code of Fair Practices, Title 49, chapter 3, MCA.

(4) "Commission" means the human rights commission as established by 2-15-1706 , MCA.

(5) Department" means the department of labor and industry.

(6) "Respondent" means any person against whom a complaint is filed.

(7) "Person" means a person as defined in 49-2-101 , MCA.

(8) "Right to sue letter" means a document which terminates the jurisdiction of the department and commission over a complaint filed before July 1, 1997 under the act or code and allows a charging party or aggrieved person to file a discrimination action in district court.