This section defines key terms used in the chapter, including department, disaster relief organization, health practitioner, license, and volunteer health practitioner.
Sec. 115.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services. (2) "Disaster relief organization" means an entity that provides emergency or disaster relief services that include health or veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners and that: (A) is designated or recognized as a provider of those services under a disaster response and recovery plan adopted by an agency of the federal government or the division; or (B) regularly plans and conducts its activities in coordination with an agency of the federal government or the division. (3) "Division" has the meaning assigned by Section 418.004, Government Code. (4) "Emergency" means an event or condition that is a disaster as defined by Section 418.004, Government Code. (5) "Emergency declaration" means a declaration of emergency issued by the governor or a designee of the governor. (6) "Emergency Management Assistance Compact" means the interstate compact approved by Congress (Pub. L. No. 104-321) as provided by Chapter 778, Health and Safety Code. (7) "Entity" means a person other than an individual. (8) "Health facility" means an entity licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services. (9) "Health practitioner" means an individual licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services. (10) "Health services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services or supplies related to the health or death of individuals or human populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including: (A) with respect to the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or the structure or function of the body: (i) preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care; and (ii) counseling and assessment procedures or other related services; (B) the sale or dispensing of a drug, a device, equipment, or another item to an individual in accordance with a prescription; and (C) funeral, cremation, cemetery, or other mortuary services. (11) "Host entity" means an entity operating in this state that uses volunteer health practitioners to respond to an emergency. (12) "License" means an authorization by a state agency to engage in health or veterinary services that are unlawful without the authorization. The term includes authorization under the laws of this state to an individual to provide health or veterinary services based on a national certification issued by a public or private entity. (13) "Scope of practice" means the extent of the authorization to provide health or veterinary services granted to a health practitioner by a license issued to the practitioner in the state in which the principal part of the practitioner's services are rendered, including any conditions imposed by the licensing authority. (14) "Veterinary services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services or supplies related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including: (A) diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of an animal disease, injury, or other physical or mental condition by the prescription, administration, or dispensing of a vaccine, a drug, surgery, or therapy; (B) use of a procedure for reproductive management; and (C) monitoring and treatment of animal populations for diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans. (15) "Volunteer health practitioner" means a health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services without compensation. The term does not include a practitioner who receives compensation under a preexisting employment relationship with a host entity or affiliate that requires the practitioner to provide health services in this state, unless the practitioner is not a resident of this state and is employed by a disaster relief organization providing services in this state while an emergency declaration is in effect. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1264 (H.B. 746), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.