SECTION 711.3. How are the terms in this chapter defined?

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Adult--An adult is a person:

(A) 18 years of age or older; or

(B) under 18 years of age who:

(i) is or has been married; or

(ii) has had the disabilities of minority removed pursuant to the Texas Family Code, Chapter 31.

(2) APS--Adult Protective Services.

(3) Agent--An individual (e.g., student, volunteer), not employed by but working under the auspices of a service provider.

(4) Allegation--A report by an individual that an individual receiving services has been or is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation as defined by this subchapter.

(5) Allegation type--The type of allegation investigated under this chapter. APS investigates the following allegation types:

(A) physical abuse;

(B) sexual abuse;

(C) verbal/emotional abuse;

(D) neglect; and

(E) exploitation.

(6) Alleged perpetrator-- A direct provider alleged to have committed an act of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(7) Child--A person under 18 years of age who:

(A) is not and has not been married; or

(B) has not had the disabilities of minority removed pursuant to the Texas Family Code, Chapter 31.

(8) Clinical practice--Relates to the demonstration of professional competence of a licensed professional as described by the appropriate licensing professional board.

(9) Community center--A community mental health center; community center for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; or community mental health center and community center for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, established under the Health and Safety Code, Title 7, Chapter 534, Subchapter A.

(10) Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employer--A consumer directed services client or their legally authorized representative.

(11) DADS--Department of Aging and Disability Services.

(12) DFPS--Department of Family and Protective Services.

(13) DSHS--Department of State Health Services.

(14) Designated Perpetrator--A direct provider who has committed an act of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(15) Direct Provider--A person, employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a service provider responsible for providing services to an individual receiving services.

(16) Emergency order for protective services--A court order for protective services obtained under Human Resources Code, §48.208.

(17) Facility--

(A) DADS and DSHS central offices, state supported living centers, state hospitals, the Rio Grande State Center, the Waco Center for Youth, the El Paso Psychiatric Center, and community services operated by DADS or DSHS;

(B) A person contracting with a health and human services agency to provide inpatient mental health services; and

(C) Intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability or related conditions (ICF-IID) licensed under Chapter 252, Health and Safety Code.

(18) HHSC--Health and Human Services Commission.

(19) Home and community-based services--Have the meaning given to them in Human Resources Code §48.251(a)(5) as services provided in the home or community in accordance with 42 U.S.C. §1315, 42 U.S.C. §1315a, 42 U.S.C. §1396a, or 42 U.S.C. §1396n.

(20) Home and community-based services (HCS) waiver program--The Medicaid program authorized under §1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1396n(c)) for the provision of services to persons with an intellectual or developmental disability described by §534.001(11)(B), Government Code.

(21) Home and community support services agency (HCSSA)--An agency licensed under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code.

(22) ICF-IID--A licensed intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or related conditions as described in Chapter 252, Health and Safety Code.

(23) Incitement--To spur to action or instigate into activity; the term implies responsibility for initiating another's actions.

(24) Individual receiving services--

(A) An adult or child who receives services from a provider as that term is defined in §48.251(a)(9), Human Resources Code.

(B) An adult or child who lives in a residence that is owned, operated, or controlled by an HCS waiver program provider regardless of whether the individual is receiving HCS waiver program services; or

(C) A child receiving services from a HCSSA.

(25) Investigator--An employee of Adult Protective Services who has:

(A) demonstrated competence and expertise in conducting investigations; and

(B) received training on techniques for communicating effectively with individuals with a disability.

(26) Limited Service Provider--An entity that contracts with a service provider to provide services.

(27) Local authority-- Either:

(A) a local mental health authority designated by the HHSC executive commissioner in accordance with §533.035, Health and Safety Code, and as defined by §531.002, Health and Safety Code; or

(B) a local intellectual and developmental disability authority designated by the HHSC executive commissioner in accordance with §533A.035, Health and Safety Code, and as defined by §531.002, Health and Safety Code.

(28) Non-serious physical injury--

(A) In state supported living centers and state hospitals only, any injury requiring minor first aid and determined not to be serious by a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), or physician.

(B) For all other service providers any injury determined not to be serious by the appropriate medical personnel. Examples of non-serious physical injury include:

(i) superficial laceration;

(ii) contusion two and one-half inches in diameter or smaller; or

(iii) abrasion.

(29) Perpetrator--A direct provider who has committed or alleged to have committed an act of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(30) Preponderance of evidence--Evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it; that is, evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not.

(31) Prevention and management of aggressive behavior (PMAB)--DADS and DSHS' proprietary risk management program that uses the least intrusive, most effective options to reduce the risk of injury for persons served and staff from acts or potential acts of aggression.

(32) Provider--A provider is:

(A) a facility;

(B) a community center, local mental health authority, and local intellectual and developmental disability authority;

(C) a person who contracts with a health and human services agency or managed care organization to provide home and community-based services;

(D) a person who contracts with a Medicaid managed care organization to provide behavioral health services;

(E) a managed care organization;

(F) an officer, employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a person or entity listed in subparagraphs (A)-(E) of this paragraph; and

(G) an employee, fiscal agent, case manager, or service coordinator of an individual employer participating in the consumer-directed service option, as defined by §531.051, Government Code.

(33) Reporter--The person, who may be anonymous, making an allegation.

(34) Serious physical injury--

(A) In state supported living centers and state hospitals only, any injury requiring medical intervention or hospitalization or any injury determined to be serious by a physician or APRN. Medical intervention is treatment by a licensed medical doctor, osteopath, podiatrist, dentist, physician assistant, or APRN. For the purposes of this subchapter, medical intervention does not include first aid, an examination, diagnostics (e.g., x-ray, blood test), or the prescribing of oral or topical medication;

(B) For all other service providers, any injury determined to be serious by the appropriate medical personnel. Examples of serious physical injury include:

(i) fracture;

(ii) dislocation of any joint;

(iii) internal injury;

(iv) contusion larger than two and one-half inches in diameter;

(v) concussion;

(vi) second or third degree burn; or

(vii) any laceration requiring sutures or wound closure.

(35) Service Provider--A provider, HCSSA, or HCS waiver program provider responsible for employing, contracting with, or supervising the direct provider.

(36) Sexually transmitted disease--Any infection with or without symptoms or clinical manifestations that can be transmitted from one person to another by sexual contact.

(37) Texas Home Living (TxHmL) waiver program--The Medicaid program authorized under §1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1396n(c)) for the provision of services to persons with an intellectual or developmental disability described by §534.001(11)(D), Government Code.

(38) Victim--An individual receiving services who is alleged to have been abused, neglected, or exploited.

Source Note: The provisions of this §711.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 6218; amended to be effective November 5, 2017, 42 TexReg 6187; transferred effective June 15, 2019, as published in the Texas Register May 24, 2019, 44 TexReg 2617