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

1. (1) Board - The Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
2. (2) Contested Case - A proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a party are to be determined by the Teacher Retirement System after an opportunity for adjudicative hearing.
3. (3) Executive Director - The executive director of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. When the executive director determines that a need exists, the executive director at his or her discretion may appoint a person to accomplish the duties assigned in this chapter to the executive director.
4. (4) Hearing Officer - Any person appointed by the executive director, or by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), to conduct a contested case hearing.
5. (5) Member - A person who is a member, retiree, or beneficiary of the Teacher Retirement System.
6. (6) Order - The whole or a part of the final disposition, whether affirmative, negative, injunctive, or declaratory in form, of a hearing officer, the executive director, or the board in a contested case.
7. (7) Party - Each person named or admitted in a contested case.
8. (8) Person - Any natural person.
9. (9) Pleading - A written allegation by the parties or the Teacher Retirement System of Texas of their or its respective claims. Pleadings may take the form of applications, petitions, appeal letters, complaints, briefs, exceptions, replies, motions, notices, or answers.
10. (10) TRS - The Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
11. (11) Trustee - One of the elected or appointed members of the decision making body defined as the board.
12. (12) With prejudice - Final and binding.

Source Note:The provisions of this §43.3 adopted to be effective April 20, 1988, 13 TexReg 1672; amended to be effective June 9, 1999, 24 TexReg 4249.