Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 121.007. Public Health Regions

(a) The department may designate geographic areas of the state as public health regions to provide public health services.

(b) The department shall appoint a physician to serve as regional director for each public health region. The regional director is the chief administrative officer of the region. The department shall establish the qualifications and terms of employment of a regional director.

(c) The department may require a regional director to perform the duties of a health authority. The regional director may perform those duties, as authorized by the department, in a jurisdiction in the region in which the health authority fails to perform duties prescribed under Section 121.024. The regional director shall perform the duties of a health authority in a jurisdiction in the region in which there is not a health authority.