TITLE public-safety-and-corrections

Part I. Texas Department of Public Safety

Chapter 7. Division of Emergency Management

Subchapter A. Emergency Management Program Requirements

37 TAC §7.2, §7.3

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts amendments to §7.2 and §7.3, concerning Emergency Management Program Requirements, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 18, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12880) and will not be republished.

The justification for the section will be rules that more accurately reflect policy and procedures relating to emergency management.

Language is added and deleted in §7.2 and §7.3 to comport with applicable Governor's Executive Order, GWB95-1, relating to Emergency Management.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.006(4), which provides the director with the authority to adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control of the department and Texas Government Code, §418.024 and §418.042.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901093

Dudley M. Thomas

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 18, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Subchapter B. Emergency Management Planning Requirements.

37 TAC §7.13

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts an amendment to §7.13, concerning Emergency Management Planning and Preplanning Requirements, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 18, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12881) and will not be republished.

The justification for the amendments are rules that more accurately reflect statute and policy.

Language is amended to replace a reference to the Civil Disaster Act of 1950, which has been repealed, with a reference to the current applicable statute. The name of the subchapter has also been amended to more accurately reflect current policy.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.006(4), which provides the director with the authority to adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control of the department and Texas Government Code, §418.024 and §418.042.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901094

Dudley M. Thomas

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 18, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Subchapter C. Emergency Management Operations

37 TAC §§7.25, 7.27-7.29

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts amendments to §§7.25 and 7.27-7.29, concerning Emergency Management Operations, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 18, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12881) and will not be republished.

The justification for the amendments are rules that more accurately reflect policy and procedures relating to emergency management.

Language in §7.25 is amended to comport with language of the current State of Texas State Plan as promulgated pursuant to Texas Government Code, §418.042. §7.27 is amended by deleting the language "order the public" and inserting in its place "recommend the public," in order to comport with the language of Texas Government Code, §418.018(a). The title of §7.28 is amended by substituting "evacuees" for "refugees." The amended language of the title corresponds to the language in the body of the rule. §7.29 is amended to replace the language "Texas Disaster Act," with the language, "Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, as amended." The Texas Disaster Act is codified as Texas Government Code, Chapter 418.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.006(4), which provides the director with the authority to adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control of the department and Texas Government Code, §418.024 and §418.042.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901095

Dudley M. Thomas

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 18, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Subchapter D. Recovery and Rehabilitation Requirements

37 TAC §7.42

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts an amendment to §7.42, concerning Recovery and Rehabilitation Requirements, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 18, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12882) and will not be republished.

The justification for this section will be rules that more accurately reflect policy and procedure relating to emergency management.

Language in §7.42 is amended to comport with relevant language in the State Plan promulgated pursuant to Texas Government Code, §418.042. The section is also amended to add a requirement that any request for assistance or a request for a gubernatorial disaster declaration must include a local state of disaster.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.006(4), which provides the director with the authority to adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control of the department and Texas Government Code, §418.024 and §418.042.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901096

Dudley M. Thomas

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 18, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


37 TAC §7.45

The Texas Department of Public Safety adopts the repeal of §7.45, concerning Assistance Available, without changes to the proposed text as published in the December 18, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 12882) and will not be republished.

The justification for the repeal is that the section no longer exists and, therefore, serves no purpose.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the repeal.

The repeal is adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code, §411.006(4), which provides the director with the authority to adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control of the department and Texas Government Code, §418.024 and §418.042.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901097

Dudley M. Thomas

Director

Texas Department of Public Safety

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: December 18, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 424-2135


Part IX. Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Chapter 253. Definitions

37 TAC §253.1

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards adopts an amendment to §253.1, concerning definitions, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 1, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 94).

The amendment is being adopted due to a commission meeting held November 16, 1998, where jail administrators, architects and other jail associations were invited to discuss the proposed changes to construction standards. During that time it was indicated that a definition for the words "system" and "ward" should be included in the standard.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under Government Code, Chapter 511, which provides the Texas Commission on Jail Standards with the authority to revise, amend, or change rules and procedures if necessary.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901062

Jack E. Crump

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: January 1, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5505


Chapter 257. Construction Approval Rules

37 TAC §257.9, §257.10

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards adopts amendments to §257.9 and §257.10, concerning construction approval rules, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 1, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 95).

The amendment to §257.9 is being adopted due to the commission adopted the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), §11.4.1 and §11.4.2 and Chapter 12 and the Texas Accessibility Standards effective August 1996. Since that time, ADAAG designations have been amended. The proposed change to this section will update the standard consistent with the latest interim final rules for courtroom holding cells and jail facilities.

Currently §257.10 requires plans be submitted to the elimination of Architectural Barriers (EAB) of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for review. Adopting this amendment will still require the plans to be supplied to EAB for review but allow the county to begin construction immediately following jail standards review.

Both of these sections are part of the agency review process in accordance with the Appropriations Act of 1997, House Bill 1, Article IX, §167.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under Government Code, Chapter 511, which provides the Texas Commission on Jail Standards with the authority to revise, amend, or change rules and procedures if necessary.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901063

Jack E. Crump

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: January 1, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5505


37 TAC §257.11

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards adopts new §257.11, concerning construction approval rules, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 22, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 372).

During the meeting of November 16, 1998 to discuss proposed changes to construction rules, there was a concern that the current standards did not indicate when the changes would become effective. The adopted new section will indicate that facilities in planning or construction prior to the effective date of the standards adoption will not have to comply with the new changes.

This section is part of the agency review process in accordance with the Appropriations Act of 1997, House Bill 1, Article IX, §167.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the new section.

The new section is adopted under Government Code, Chapter 511, §511.009(1), which provides the Texas Commission on Jail Standards with the authority to adopt reasonable rules and procedures establishing minimum standards for the construction, equipment, maintenance and operation of county jails.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901064

Jack E. Crump

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: January 22, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5505


Chapter 269. Records and Procedures

Subchapter A. General

37 TAC §269.4

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards adopts an amendment to §269.4, concerning records and procedures, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 1, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 95).

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 15, 1998 that prison inmates are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Yeskey v Pennsylvania. The courts in effect stated that the ADA applied to correctional facilities. The adopted change is resultant of that decision and will encompass all of Title II of the ADA instead of just subparts. Title II is comprised of the following headings: General, General Requirements, Employment, Program Accessibility, Communications, Compliance Procedures and Designated Agencies.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.

The amendment is adopted under Government Code, Chapter 511, which provides the Texas Commission on Jail Standards with the authority to adopt reasonable rules and procedures establishing minimum standards for the custody, care, and treatment of prisoners.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 22, 1999.

TRD-9901065

Jack E. Crump

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Effective date: March 14, 1999

Proposal publication date: January 1, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5505