(a) As used in this Part:

1. (1) includes means including but not limited to;
2. (2) may means is permitted to or is authorized to;
3. (3) may not means is not permitted to or is not authorized to; and
4. (4) shall is used in the mandatory and imperative sense.

(b) In this Part:

1. (1) words indicating the singular include the plural;
2. (2) words indicating the plural include the singular; and
3. (3) words indicating the masculine gender include the feminine.