Section 81.003 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Definitions In this chapter:
(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.(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, 247, or 252.(4-b) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by Article 2A.001 , 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.(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.Tex. Health and Safety Code § 81.003
Amended by Acts 2023, Texas Acts of the 88th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 765,Sec. 2.121, eff. 1/1/2025.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 786,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2019.Amended by Acts 2015, Texas Acts of the 84th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1278,Sec. 4, eff. 9/1/2015.Amended by Acts 2015, Texas Acts of the 84th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1,Sec. 3.0216, eff. 4/2/2015.Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 314,Sec. 1, eff. 6/14/2013.Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.167, eff. 9/1/2003. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1989.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.