(a) Required Items.
  (1) Each resident must be provided:
    (A) a mattress;
    (B) a mattress cover or fitted sheet;
    (C) a sheet;
    (D) a blanket;
    (E) a pillow; and
    (F) a pillowcase.
  (2) A mattress with an integrated pillow may be substituted for a separate pillow and pillowcase.
  (3) All bedding items listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection must be clean and in good condition.
  (4) A clean mattress cover (or fitted sheet), sheet, blanket, and pillowcase must be issued at least once every seven calendar days.
(b) Modifications for Residents on Suicide Supervision. Modifications to a resident's bedding items may be made in accordance with §343.340 of this title. However, residents on suicide supervision may not be denied appropriate bedding substitutions.
(c) Misuse of Bedding Items.
  (1) If a resident has misused a sheet, fitted sheet, mattress cover, pillow, or pillowcase or if staff have reason to believe the resident will misuse these bedding items, such as using a sheet as a weapon, the items may be substituted with a blanket.
  (2) If a substitution is authorized, the resident's misuse of the bedding item or the staff's reason to believe the resident will misuse the bedding item must be documented.
(d) Misuse of Mattress in Specialized Housing.
  (1) A mattress may be temporarily removed from a specialized housing room or cell if evidence exists that the resident is:
    (A) actively damaging the mattress; or
    (B) using the mattress in a manner that presents a threat to safety or security, including, but not limited to, obstructing a doorway or window or folding the mattress to use as a makeshift stepstool.
  (2) If a resident's mattress is removed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the reason for the removal must be documented.
(e) Modifications for Residents in Disciplinary Seclusion, Safety-Based Seclusion, or Resident-Initiated Separation. Any or all of the bedding items listed in subsection (a)(1) of this section may be removed from a room or cell currently being used for disciplinary seclusion, safety-based seclusion, or resident-initiated separation whether or not the criteria in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section are present. However, unless the criteria in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section are present, all bedding items must be returned to the resident and be available for use during all non-program hours.

Source Note: The provisions of this §343.266 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 7095; amended to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9243; amended to be effective February 1, 2018, 42 TexReg 6380