TITLE 37. PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

PART 6. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CHAPTER 151. GENERAL PROVISIONS

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (board) adopts new rule §151.58, concerning Legislative Leave Pool, without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 31, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 7100). The rule will not be republished. The purpose of the new rule is to establish a legislative leave pool in compliance with HB 1828, 89th Regular Legislative Session.

No public comments were received regarding the new rule.

The new rule is adopted under Texas Government Code §492.013, which authorizes the board to adopt rules; and §493.0075, which establishes the donation of accrued compensatory time or accrued annual leave for legislative purposes for TDCJ employees.

Cross Reference to Statutes: None.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2026.

TRD-202600855

Stephanie Greger

General Counsel

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Effective date: March 15, 2026

Proposal publication date: October 31, 2025

For further information, please call: (936) 437-6700

CHAPTER 152. CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS DIVISION

SUBCHAPTER A. MISSION AND ADMISSIONS

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (board) adopts without changes the repeal of 37 Texas Administrative Code, Part 6 §152.5, concerning Designation of State Jail Regions, as published in the October 31, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 7102). The rule will not be republished. The repeal eliminates a rule whose governing statutes, Government Code §§507.003-.004 were repealed by SB 2405, 89th Regular Legislative Session.

No public comments were received regarding the repeal.

The repeal is adopted under Texas Government Code §492.013, which authorizes the board to adopt rules as necessary for its own procedures and for operation of the department and the independent reporting entities.

Cross Reference to Statutes: None.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2026.

TRD-202600852

Stephanie Greger

General Counsel

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Effective date: March 15, 2026

Proposal publication date: October 31, 2025

For further information, please call: (936) 437-6700

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (board) adopts amendments to §152.3, concerning Admissions, without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 31, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 7101). The rule will not be republished. The adopted amendments add language to include the verification process of a county's request for reimbursement; remove requirements mandated by §152.5, "Designation of State Jail Regions," which is repealed; and make grammatical and formatting updates.

No public comments were received regarding the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Government Code §492.013, which authorizes the board to adopt rules; §499.1215, which establishes guidelines for compensation to counties for inmates awaiting transfer to the TDCJ; and §507.024, which addresses the safe transfer of defendants from counties to state jail felony facilities.

Cross Reference to Statutes: None.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2026.

TRD-202600853

Stephanie Greger

General Counsel

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Effective date: March 15, 2026

Proposal publication date: October 31, 2025

For further information, please call: (936) 437-6700

CHAPTER 159. SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice (board) adopts amendments to §159.19, concerning Continuity of Care and Services Program for Offenders who are Elderly, Terminally Ill, Significantly Ill or with a Physical Disability or Having a Mental Illness, with a change to the proposed text as published in the October 31, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 7103). The rule will be republished. The adopted amendments add the Texas Workforce Commission to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); revise "mental illness" to "mental impairment" and "terminally ill" to "terminal illness" throughout, including the title; remove the linked graphic of the finalized MOU; and make other edits and grammatical updates for clarity.

No public comments were received regarding the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Government Code §492.001, which establishes the board's authority over the department; §492.013, which authorizes the board to adopt rules; Texas Health and Safety Code §614.003, which establishes the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments; §§614.007-.008, which establishes the powers and duties of TCOOMMI and the community-based diversion program; and §§614.013-.015, which mandates a memorandum of understanding be established for the continuity of care for offenders with mental impairments, elderly offenders, and offenders with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses.

Cross Reference to Statutes: None.

§159.19. Continuity of Care and Services Program for Offenders who are Elderly, have a Mental Impairment or Physical Disability, or have Significant or Terminal Illness.

(a) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) adopts a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the purpose of establishing a continuity of care and services program for offenders who are elderly, have a mental impairment or physical disability, or have significant or terminal illness.

(b) This MOU is required by the Texas Health and Safety Code §§614.013 - 614.015.

(c) Copies of the MOU are filed in the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, 4616 W. Howard Lane, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78728 and may be reviewed during regular business hours.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2026.

TRD-202600854

Stephanie Greger

General Counsel

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Effective date: March 15, 2026

Proposal publication date: October 31, 2025

For further information, please call: (936) 437-6700