---
title: "COVID-19 Legal Update: Texas"
---

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# COVID-19 Legal Update: Texas

## COVID-19 Legal Update: TeXAS

[<<Back to Regulatory Map](https://links.gallagherbassett.com/covid-19-legal-update-map?hsLang=en-us)

### Workers' Compensation Administrative board/ commission

[TDI/ DWC](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/coronavirus.html)

 

### How does the state define an occupational disease?

Sec 401.011(34) "Occupational disease" means a disease arising out of and in the course of employment that causes damage or harm to the physical structure of the body, including a repetitive trauma injury. The term includes a disease or infection that naturally results from the work-related disease. The term does not include an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed outside of employment, unless that disease is an incident to a compensable injury or occupational disease. 

 

### COVid-19 Specific Laws, agency declarations/ press releases, or enacted regulation?

[DWC Precautionary Measures for COVID-19](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/dwccoronavirus.pdf)  
     March 13, 2020

[TDI's Bulletin B-0007-20 - Extends claim handling by 15 days / Encourages grace period for premium pymts](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2020/B-0007-20.html)   
     March 23, 2020

[DWC Reduced Hours of Operation](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/dwccorona032420.pdf)  
     March 24, 2020

[COVID-19 Guidance: Paper Filing and Stamping Fee Payments](https://www.sltx.org/news/enews/covid-19-guidance-paper-filing-and-stamping-fee-payments/)  
     March 24, 2020

[TDI Bulletin Regarding Carrier Requirements, Suspension of Doctor Exams, and Extended Provider Billing Time Frames](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2020/B-0010-20.html)  
     March 25, 2020

[DWC Updates to Meetings & Events](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2020/dcs031620.html)  
     March 26, 2020

[DWC Bulletin Suspends Work Search for SIB Claims & Designated Doctor Testing](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2020/B-0012-20.html)  
     March 27, 2020

[DWC Announces Update to Claim Operations](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/update032720.pdf)  
     March 27, 2020

[DWC Shares Information to Govt Entities on Reimbursing COVID-19 Medical Expenses](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/s6070320m.pdf)  
     March 30, 2020

[DWC Issues Guidance on Telemedicine & Telehealth](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/cmstelemed4220.pdf)  
     April 3, 2020

[DWC BSuspension of a provision of Health and Safety Code and a DWC rule related to workers’ compensation](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2020/B-0019-20.html)  
     April 10, 2020

[DWC Emergency Rule Covering Telemedicine & Telehealth for Physical Medicine and Rehab](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/rules/adopted/documents/er167tm0420m.pdf)  
     April 13, 2020

[DWC M](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/urpreauth0520m.pdf)emo on Preauthorization Extensions  
     May 14, 2020

[TDI Bulletin on Extensions for Licenses Expire 5/31/20](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXINSUR/bulletins/28c2dc5)  
     May 18, 2020

[TDI Bulletin on Mandatory Data Call on COVID-19 Injuries](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXINSUR/bulletins/28c2dc5)  
     June 2, 2020

[TDI Bulletin on COVID-19 Resuming Certain Designated Doctor Examinations & Required Medical Examinations](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2020/B-0030-20.html)  
     June 4, 2020

[TDI Extends Telemedicine Emergency Rule into September](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2020/tdi06242020.html)  
     June 24, 2020

[TDI Releases COVID-19 Data Call Results](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/reg/documents/covid19txwc1220.pdf)  
     December 2020

[TDI Bulletin on Mandatory Data Call on COVID-19 Injuries](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2021/B-0003-21.html)  
     January 14, 2021

 

### Court Closures & Modified Call

[DWC Precautionary Measures](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/information/documents/dwccoronavirus.pdf)

 

### Is the administrative court system closed or open?

Open - telephonic hearings.

 

### Does this state have a shelter-in-place in order?

No - [order](https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-14_Statewide_Essential_Service_and_Activity_COVID-19_IMAGE_03-31-2020.pdf) was 4/2/20 until 4/30/20; phased in [re-opening](https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-phase-one-to-open-texas-establishes-statewide-minimum-standard-health-protocols) began 5/1/20.

 

### ANY STATE-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON DISABILITY, UNEMPLOYMENT, OR HEALTH BENEFITS FOR COVID-19? 

[Unemployment](https://twc.texas.gov/news/unemployment-news).

 

Last Updated: 2/1/2021

|          | [<< Gallagher Bassett COVID-19 Resource Center](https://links.gallagherbassett.com/en-us/covid-19-resource-center?hsLang=en-us) [<< Contact us with your COVID-19 Questions](http://news.gallagherbassett.com/breakingnews-covid-19) This document compiles certain state laws and websites relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. State guidance and other government instruction have changed frequently. We thus may update this document over time. Please do not hesitate to contact your account manager, resolution manager, or your other preferred contact at Gallagher Bassett with any questions. Although we have gathered information relevant to COVID-19 and its impact on workers' compensation claims and your businesses, this is not legal advice, it does not include all pertinent information, nor should it be the basis for legal, claim, benefit, safety, or human resource-related decisions. If you would like guidance on legal issues arising from COVID-19, including whether a COVID-19 related claim is compensable under a specific state’s laws, please seek advice from legal counsel with expertise in the relevant subject areas and state laws. For Gallagher Bassett clients, if you have reported a workers’ compensation claim, then your resolution manager can assist. A Further Note on the Statutes, Definitions, Cases, and Websites Cited in this Document. State law controls if a worker is entitled or not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Each state can approach this question differently, and the relevant statutes, standards of proof, regulating agencies, court precedent, and other aspects of a workers’ compensation claim vary between jurisdictions. As a general principle, state workers’ compensation laws provide medical and wage loss benefits to workers who suffer bodily injury due to an accident, or bodily injury due to an occupational disease. The relevant bodily injury must arise out of and occur in the course of employment. This document primarily compiles state definitions of “occupational disease.” With respect to diseases for which the employee may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, the disease typically must arise from particular conditions of employment that make contracting the disease more likely than in the general population, or otherwise there must be a sufficient connection between a disease and workplace. Please consult the relevant state’s workers’ compensation act for the specific language applicable to an “occupational disease” claim. |          |
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