Ask a workers compensation law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified workers compensation lawyers.
Claims, medical treatment, disability payments, termination, and more.
Get help with workers' comp forms, benefits, or employers' responsibilities
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Texas Labor Code 501.001

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005

In this chapter:
(1) “Division” means the division of workers’ compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance.
(2) “Compensable injury” has the meaning assigned to that term under Subtitle A.
(3) “Director” means the director of the State Office of Risk Management.
(4) “Office” means the State Office of Risk Management.

Text of subdivision effective until January 01, 2025

(5) “Employee” means a person who is:
(A) in the service of the state pursuant to an election, appointment, or express oral or written contract of hire;
(B) paid from state funds but whose duties require that the person work and frequently receive supervision in a political subdivision of the state;
(C) a peace officer employed by a political subdivision, while the peace officer is exercising authority granted under:
(i) Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(ii) Articles 14.03(d) and (g), Code of Criminal Procedure;
(D) a member of the state military forces, as defined by § 437.001, Government Code, who is engaged in authorized training or duty;
(E) a Texas Task Force 1 member, as defined by § 88.301, Education Code, who is activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management or is injured during training sponsored or sanctioned by Texas Task Force 1; or
(F) an intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member, as defined by § 88.126, Education Code, who is activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management or is injured during training sponsored or sanctioned by the Texas Division of Emergency Management on behalf of an intrastate fire mutual aid system team or a regional incident management team, as applicable.

Text of subdivision effective on January 01, 2025

(5) “Employee” means a person who is:
(A) in the service of the state pursuant to an election, appointment, or express oral or written contract of hire;
(B) paid from state funds but whose duties require that the person work and frequently receive supervision in a political subdivision of the state;
(C) a peace officer employed by a political subdivision, while the peace officer is exercising authority granted under:
(i) Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(ii) Articles 14.03(d) and (g), Code of Criminal Procedure;
(D) a member of the state military forces, as defined by § 437.001, Government Code, who is engaged in authorized training or duty;
(E) a Texas Task Force 1 member, as defined by § 88.301, Education Code, who is activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management or is injured during training sponsored or sanctioned by Texas Task Force 1; or
(F) an intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member, as defined by § 88.126, Education Code, who is activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management or is injured during training sponsored or sanctioned by the Texas Division of Emergency Management on behalf of an intrastate fire mutual aid system team or a regional incident management team, as applicable.
(5-a) “Post-traumatic stress disorder” has the meaning assigned by § 504.019.
(6) “State agency” includes a department, board, commission, or institution of this state.
(6-a) “State active duty” and “Texas military forces” have the meanings assigned by § 437.001, Government Code.
(7) “Board” means the risk management board.