TITLE 37. PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
PART 9. TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS
CHAPTER 263. LIFE SAFETY RULES
SUBCHAPTER
A.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.1 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter A General, Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3101). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule requires county jail facilities to be designed, constructed maintained, staffed and operated to comply with the standards as adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503066
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
SUBCHAPTER
B.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.12 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter B Design and Materials Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3102). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule adds language which updates the references to the National Fire Protection Associations' standards.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503067
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.15
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.15 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter B Design and Materials, Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3103). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule requires county jail facilities to illuminate stairways at 10 foot candle brightness and to arrange in such a way that failure of any lighting unit or bulb will not leave any area in darkness.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503068
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.19
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.19 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter B Design and Materials Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3103). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule corrects grammar and clarifies a reference with a full title.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503069
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
SUBCHAPTER
C.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.30 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter C Detection and Alarm Systems Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3104) and the Correction of Error notice published contemporaneously in this issue. The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule clarifies references and conforms to recommended language as provided by the State Fire Marshal's Office during TCJS' four year rule review.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503070
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.32
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.32 (relating to life safety and testing of fire alarm systems in county jails) under Subchapter C Detection and Alarm Systems Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3104).
The adoption of this rule adds language which specifies how fire alarm systems shall be tested in county jails.
No comments were received during the public comment period. No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption. The rule will not be republished.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
§263.32.
The fire alarm system shall be tested in accordance with the inspection, testing, and maintenance schedules in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and shall be tested at least on calendar quarterly intervals.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503071
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.33
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.33 (relating to life safety and testing of fire alarm systems in county jails) under Subchapter C Detection and Alarm Systems Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3105). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule adds language which adds a reference to the National Fire Protection Association regarding how fire alarm systems shall be supervised.
No comments were received during the public comment period. No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption. The rule will not be republished.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503072
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
SUBCHAPTER
E.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.50 (relating to life safety in county jails) under Subchapter E Life Safety and Emergency Equipment Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3105). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule adds language which corrects grammatical mistakes in this rule.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503073
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.51
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.51 (relating to life safety smoke management in county jails) under Subchapter E Life Safety and Emergency Equipment Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3106). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule adds language which corrects grammatical mistakes in this rule.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503074
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
37 TAC §263.52
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §263.52 (relating to life safety, standpipes and hoses in county jails) under Subchapter E Life Safety and Emergency Equipment Chapter 263 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3108). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule adds titles for references to National Fire Protection Association chapters and corrects grammatical errors.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009.
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503075
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668
CHAPTER 279. SANITATION
37 TAC §279.1The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) adopts amendments to §279.1 (relating to sanitation plans and hand washing in county jails) in Chapter 279 Part 9 of Title 37 of the Texas Administrative Code without changes to the text as proposed in the May 23, 2025, issue of the Texas Register (50 TexReg 3108). The rule will not be republished.
The adoption of this rule will require county jails to establish a method to allow hand washing prior to meals being served in holding cells.
No comments were received during the public comment period.
Statutory authority to adopt this rule comes from Texas Government Code 511.009
No further article, statute, or code is affected by this adoption.
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 August 25, 2025.
TRD-202503065
Brandon Wood
Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Effective date: September 14, 2025
Proposal publication date: May 23, 2025
For further information, please call: (512) 850-9668