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 board after an opportunity for adjudicative hearing.
3. (3) Executive secretary--The executive secretary of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
4. (4) Hearing officer--Any person appointed by the executive secretary to conduct 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 the board in a matter other than rulemaking.
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) Presiding hearing officer--The hearing officer appointed to hear the present case may also be referred to as the hearing officer.
11. (11) Proceeding--Any hearing, investigation, inquiry, or other fact-finding or decision-making procedure, including the denial of relief or the dismissal of an appeal if the matter is a contested case.
12. (12) TRS--The Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
13. (13) Trustee--One of the elected or appointed members of the decision making body defined as the board.
14. (14) With prejudice--Final and binding.

Source Note:The provisions of this §43.3 adopted to be effective April 20, 1988, 13 TexReg 1672.