(a) Definition. A family residential center is one that meets all of the following requirements:
  (1) The center is operated by or under a contract with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
  (2) The center is operated to enforce federal immigration laws;
  (3) Each child at the center is detained with a parent or other adult family member, who remains with the child at the center; and
  (4) A parent or family member with a child provides the direct care for the child except for specific circumstances when the child is cared for directly by the center or another adult in the custody of the center.
(b) Classification. A family residential center is a general residential operation (GRO) and must comply with all associated requirements for GROs, unless the family residential center is approved for an individual waiver or variance or an exception is provided in this section. The department is responsible for regulating the provision of childcare as authorized by Chapters 40 and 42, Texas Human Resources Code and Chapter 261, Texas Human Resources Code. The department does not oversee requirements that pertain to other law, including whether the facilities are classified as secure or in compliance with any operable settlement agreements or other state or federal restrictions.
(c) Exceptions. A family residential center is not required to comply with all terms of the following Minimum Standards:
  (1) the limitation of room occupants to four in §748.3357 of this title (relating to What are the requirements for floor space in a bedroom used by a child?), except that nothing in this exception shall be construed to require fewer than 60 square feet per child;
  (2) the limitation on a child sharing a bedroom with an adult in §748.3361 of this title (relating to May a child in care share a bedroom with an adult?), if the bedroom is being shared in order to allow a child to remain with the child's parent or other family member; and
  (3) the limitations on children of the opposite gender sharing a room in §748.3363 of this title (relating to May children of opposite genders share a bedroom?), except that nothing in this exception shall be construed to permit children from different families who are over the age of six and members of the opposite gender to share a bedroom.
(d) Limitation of exception. Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, and as further described in §745.8313 of this title (relating to Is a waiver or variance unconditional?), the department retains the authority for placing conditions on the scope of the exceptions authorized for a family residential center, including conditions related to limiting occupancy in accordance with fire safety standards, limitations related to allowing children and adults of the opposite gender to occupy the same room only if they are part of the same family, and any other limitation determined by the department to be necessary to the health, safety, or welfare of children in care.
(e) Division of responsibility. In addition to the application materials described in §745.243(6) of this title (relating to What does a completed application for a permit include?), an applicant for a license under this section must submit the policies, procedures, and any other documentation that the department deems necessary to clarify the division of supervisory and caretaking responsibility between employees of the facility and the parents and other adult family members who are housed with the children. The department must approve the documentation during the application process and any subsequent amendments to the policies and procedures.
(f) Applicability. This rule is applicable only to the extent that a GRO may provide care to children who are unlawfully present in the United States and in the custody of the federal government.

Source Note: The provisions of this §748.7 adopted to be effective March 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 1493; transferred effective March 9, 2018, as published in the Texas Register February 16, 2018, 43 TexReg 909; amended to be effective July 8, 2022, 47 TexReg 4337