Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 121.033. Department Director

(a) The governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a county shall appoint the director of the municipality's or county's local health department.

(b) The director is the chief administrative officer of the local health department, and if the director is a physician, the director is the health authority in the local health department's jurisdiction.

(c) The governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a county may designate a person to perform its appointment duties under this section.

(d) A director of a local health department who is not a physician shall appoint a physician as the health authority in the local health department's jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the governing body or the commissioners court, as appropriate, and the department.

(e) The governing body or the commissioners court, as appropriate, shall set the compensation of the director and the health authority in its jurisdiction, except that the compensation, including a salary, may be allowed only for services actually rendered.