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Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 81.042. Persons Required to Report

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(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 executive commissioner 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 executive commissioner, 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 day activity and health services facility;

(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.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 81.042. Persons Required to Report - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/health-and-safety-code/health-safety-sect-81-042/

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