Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE |
Title 2. HEALTH |
Subtitle D. PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND REPORTS OF DISEASES |
Chapter 81. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES |
Subchapter C. REPORTS AND REPORTABLE DISEASES |
Sec. 81.042. PERSONS REQUIRED TO REPORT
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(a) A report under Subsection (b), (c), or (d) shall be made to the local health authority.
(b) A dentist or veterinarian licensed to practice in this state or a physician shall report, after the first professional encounter, a patient or animal examined that has or is suspected of having a reportable disease.
(c) A local school authority shall report a child attending school who is suspected of having a reportable disease. The board by rule shall establish procedures to determine if a child should be suspected and reported and to exclude the child from school pending appropriate medical diagnosis or recovery.
(d) A person in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory, blood bank, mobile unit, or other facility in which a laboratory examination of a specimen derived from a human body yields microscopical, cultural, serological, or other evidence of a reportable disease shall report the findings, in accordance with this section and procedures adopted by the board, in the jurisdiction in which:
(1) the physician's office is located, if the laboratory examination was requested by a physician; or
(2) the laboratory is located, if the laboratory examination was not requested by a physician.
(e) The following persons shall report to the local health authority or the department a suspected case of a reportable disease and all information known concerning the person who has or is suspected of having the disease if a report is not made as required by Subsections (a)-(d):
(1) a professional registered nurse;
(2) an administrator or director of a public or private temporary or permanent child-care facility;
(3) an administrator or director of a nursing home, personal care home, adult respite care center, or adult day-care center;
(4) an administrator of a home health agency;
(5) an administrator or health official of a public or private institution of higher education;
(6) an owner or manager of a restaurant, dairy, or other food handling or processing establishment or outlet;
(7) a superintendent, manager, or health official of a public or private camp, home, or institution;
(8) a parent, guardian, or householder;
(9) a health professional;
(10) an administrator or health official of a penal or correctional institution; or
(11) emergency medical service personnel, a peace officer, or a firefighter.