§ 91B.001.Definitions

A single borrowing definition: "certified veterinary assistant," "licensed veterinary technician," and "veterinarian" have the meanings assigned by Section 801.002, Occupations Code.

Three tiers of the veterinary profession, and covering all three matters for what the chapter protects.

Disaster response to animals is not done by veterinarians alone. Technicians and assistants do most of the hands-on work at an emergency shelter or a field triage point, and protecting only the veterinarian would leave the people doing the volume of the work exposed.

Borrowing from the licensing statute keeps the definitions current. The Veterinary Licensing Act defines the scope of each role and the supervision each requires, and this chapter follows any amendment without needing one itself.

That connection is operative rather than decorative. The immunity applies only to care given within the scope of practice authorized and level of supervision required under that chapter — so the Occupations Code definitions determine not just who is covered but what they may do while covered.

The chapter is the third of three consecutive volunteer practitioner chapters, and the only one addressing animals.