(a) Facilities must follow the appropriate housing standard as defined in 29 CFR §500.132, (the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) housing standards also referred to as the "ETA and OSHA Housing Standards"), or if applicable the Range Housing standard as defined in 20 CFR §655.235 or Mobile Housing Standards as defined in 20 CFR §655.304. The inspection checklists setting forth those standards are available on the Department's website at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/migrant-labor-housing-facilities.
(b) Inspections of the Facilities of applicants for a License and Licensees may be conducted by the Department under the authority of Tex. Gov't Code §2306.928 upon reasonable notice and using the appropriate inspection forms noted in subsection (a) of this section. Inspections may be conducted by other State or Federal agencies, on behalf of the Department, on forms promulgated by those agencies.
(c) In addition to the standards noted in subsection (a) of this section, all Facilities must comply with the following additional state standards:
  (1) Facilities shall be constructed in a manner to insure the protection of Occupants against the elements. Facilities shall be maintained in good repair and in a sanitary condition. All doors to the exterior shall have working locks and all windows shall have working interior latches. Each unit shall have a working smoke detector. Fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided in an accessible place located within 100 feet from each Facility. Such equipment shall provide protection equal to a 2 1/2 gallon stored pressure of five gallon pump type water extinguisher. A working carbon monoxide detector must be present in all units that use gas or other combustible fuel.
  (2) Combined cooking, eating, and sleeping arrangements must have at least 100 SF per person (aged 18 months and older); the portion of the Facility for sleeping areas must include at least a designated 50 square feet per person.
  (3) Facilities for Families with children must have a separate room or partitioned area for adult Family members.
  (4) In dormitory-type facilities, separate sleeping accommodations shall be provided for each sex. In Family housing units, separate sleeping accommodations shall be provided for each Family unit.
  (5) Facilities previously used to mix, load, or store pesticides and toxic chemicals may not be used for cooking, dishwashing, eating, sleeping, housing purposes, or other similar purposes.
  (6) In a central mess or multifamily feeding operation, the kitchen and mess hall shall be constructed in accordance with any applicable local or state rules on food services sanitation.
  (7) Beds, bunks, or cots shall have a clear space of at least 12 inches from the floor. Triple-deck bunks shall be prohibited. Single beds shall be spaced not closer than 36 inches laterally or end to end. Bunk beds shall be spaced not less than 48 inches laterally or 36 inches end to end. There shall be a clear ceiling height above a mattress of not less than 36 inches. The clear space above the lower mattress of the bunk beds and the bottom of the upper bunk shall not be less than 27 inches.
  (8) Bathrooms, in aggregate shall have a minimum of one showerhead per 10 persons and one lavatory sink per six persons. Showerheads shall be spaced at least three feet apart to insure a minimum of nine square feet of showering space per showerhead.
  (9) In all communal bathrooms separate shower stalls shall be provided.
  (10) Mechanical clothes washers with dryers or clothes lines shall be provided in a ratio of one per 50 persons. In lieu of mechanical clothes washers, one laundry tray (which is a fixed tub (made of slate, earthenware, soapstone, enameled iron, stainless steel, heavy duty plastic, or porcelain) with running water and drainpipe for washing clothes and other household linens) or tub per 25 persons may be provided.
  (11) All Facility sites shall be provided with electricity. The electrical systems shall conform to all applicable codes and shall be sufficient to provide the electricity with sufficient amperage to operate all required and available features, including but not limited to lighting, stoves, hot water heaters, heating systems, portable heaters, refrigeration, and such other devices as may be connected to wall type convenience outlets.
  (12) A separate bed and clean mattress must be provided for each individual worker or Couple. If a single bed is provided to a couple, it may not be smaller than a full size.

Source Note: The provisions of this §90.4 adopted to be effective July 4, 2024, 49 TexReg 4761