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

1. (1) Adjuster's license--A Type 03 adjuster's license (workers' compensation) issued by the Texas Department of Insurance.
2. (2) Commission--The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission.
3. (3) Continuing education--Training required by the commission to maintain designation as an ombudsman and by the Texas Department of Insurance to maintain an adjuster's license.
4. (4) Director--The director of the division of Employee/Employer Field Services.

5. (5) Mentor--An experienced ombudsman who observes and monitors the training of and serves as advisor to ombudsmen who have not completed the training program. A mentor:

   1. (A) is selected by the director or his or her designee;
   2. (B) must have completed the Ombudsman Training Program; and
   3. (C) must have been performing all of the duties of an ombudsman for a minimum of one year.
6. (6) Ombudsman--A commission employee who has been designated by the director to perform some or all of the duties described in the Texas Labor Code, §409.041. Employees designated as ombudsmen on or after September 1, 1997, shall have at least one year demonstrated experience in the field of workers' compensation.
7. (7) Ombudsman Training Program--Mandatory classroom instruction, on-the-job training and regularly scheduled observations by mentors and central office ombudsmen. The term includes continuing education and the requirements for obtaining and retaining an adjuster's license.

Source Note:The provisions of this §276.10 adopted to be effective February 2, 1996, 21 TexReg 512; amended to be effective December 2, 1997, 22 TexReg 11693; transferred effective March 1, 2006, as published in the Texas Register June 23, 2006, 31 TexReg 5147.