Tex.
Health & Safety Code Section 81.003
Definitions
(1)
“Communicable disease” means an illness that occurs through the transmission of an infectious agent or its toxic products from a reservoir to a susceptible host, either directly, as from an infected person or animal, or indirectly through an intermediate plant or animal host, a vector, or the inanimate environment.(1-a)
“Emergency response employee or volunteer” means an individual acting in the course and scope of employment or service as a volunteer as emergency medical service personnel, a peace officer, a detention officer, a county jailer, or a fire fighter.(1-b)
“Designated infection control officer” means the person serving as an entity’s designated infection control officer under Section 81.012 (Designated Infection Control Officer).(2)
“Health authority” means:(A)
a physician appointed as a health authority under Chapter 121 (Local Public Health Reorganization Act) or the health authority’s designee; or(B)
a physician appointed as a regional director under Chapter 121 (Local Public Health Reorganization Act) who performs the duties of a health authority or the regional director’s designee.(3)
“Health professional” means an individual whose:(A)
vocation or profession is directly or indirectly related to the maintenance of the health of another individual or of an animal; and(B)
duties require a specified amount of formal education and may require a special examination, certificate or license, or membership in a regional or national association.(4)
“Local health department” means a department created under Chapter 121 (Local Public Health Reorganization Act).(4-a)
“Long-term care facility” means a facility licensed or regulated under Chapter 242 (Convalescent and Nursing Facilities and Related Institutions), 247 (Assisted Living Facilities), or 252 (Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability).(4-b)
“Peace officer” has the meaning assigned by Article 2.12 (Who Are Peace Officers), Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a sheriff or constable.(4-b)
“Peace officer” has the meaning assigned by Article 2A.001 (Peace Officers Generally), Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a sheriff or constable.(5)
“Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine by the Texas Medical Board.(6)
“Public health district” means a district created under Chapter 121 (Local Public Health Reorganization Act).(7)
“Public health disaster” means:(A)
a declaration by the governor of a state of disaster; and(B)
a determination by the commissioner that there exists an immediate threat from a communicable disease, health condition, or chemical, biological, radiological, or electromagnetic exposure that:(i)
poses a high risk of death or serious harm to the public; and(ii)
creates a substantial risk of harmful public exposure.(7-a)
“Public health emergency” means a determination by the commissioner, evidenced in an emergency order issued by the commissioner, that there exists an immediate threat from a communicable disease, health condition, or chemical, biological, radiological, or electromagnetic exposure that:(A)
potentially poses a risk of death or severe illness or harm to the public; and(B)
potentially creates a substantial risk of harmful exposure to the public.(8)
“Reportable disease” means a disease or condition included in the list of reportable diseases and includes a disease that is designated as reportable under Section 81.048 (Notification of Emergency Response Employee or Volunteer).(9)
“Resident of this state” means a person who:(A)
is physically present and living voluntarily in this state;(B)
is not in the state for temporary purposes; and(C)
intends to make a home in this state, which may be demonstrated by the presence of personal effects at a specific abode in the state; employment in the state; possession of a Texas driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, voter registration, or other similar documentation; or other pertinent evidence.(10)
“School authority” means:(A)
the superintendent of a public school system or the superintendent’s designee; or(B)
the principal or other chief administrative officer of a private school.(11)
“Sexually transmitted disease” means an infection, with or without symptoms or clinical manifestations, that may be transmitted from one person to another during, or as a result of, sexual relations between two persons and that may:(A)
produce a disease in, or otherwise impair the health of, either person; or(B)
cause an infection or disease in a fetus in utero or a newborn.
Source:
Section 81.003 — Definitions, https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.81.htm#81.003 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).
