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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the state employee wellness program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 664, Government Code, is amended by |
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designating Sections 664.001 through 664.006 as Subchapter A and |
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adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. STATE EMPLOYEES HEALTH FITNESS |
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AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
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SECTION 2. Section 664.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 664.001. SHORT TITLE. This subchapter [chapter] may |
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be cited as the State Employees Health Fitness and Education Act of |
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1983. |
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SECTION 3. Section 664.003, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 664.003. DEFINITION. In this subchapter [chapter], |
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"state agency" means a department, institution, commission, or |
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other agency of the state. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 664, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. STATE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 664.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state |
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health services. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(3) "State agency" means a department, institution, |
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commission, or other agency that is in the executive, judicial, or |
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legislative branch of state government, including an institution of |
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higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(4) "State employee" means a state employee who |
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participates in a health benefits program administered under |
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Chapter 1551 or 1601, Insurance Code. |
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Sec. 664.052. RULES. The commissioner shall adopt rules |
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for the administration of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 664.053. CREATION OF PROGRAM; DESIGNATION OF |
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COORDINATOR. (a) The department shall designate a statewide |
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wellness coordinator to create and develop a statewide wellness |
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program to improve the health and wellness of state employees. The |
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wellness program must focus on the return of the state investment in |
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employee wellness. The wellness program shall include: |
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(1) educational classes that target the most costly |
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health care claims, including classes addressing stress |
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management, nutrition, healthy eating habits, emotional |
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well-being, fitness, disease prevention, and smoking cessation; |
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(2) health risk assessment tools and programs, |
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including individualized surveys that identify an employee's risk |
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level for health-related problems and programs that suggest to |
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employees methods for minimizing risks; |
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(3) health, nutritional, and fitness-related |
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resources; |
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(4) the development of policy and environmental change |
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strategies that integrate healthy behaviors and physical activity, |
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including providing nutritional food choices in snack bars, vending |
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machines, and state-run cafeterias located in state buildings; and |
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(5) incentives to encourage participation in the |
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wellness program, including allowing extra leave time for physical |
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activity and participation in the wellness program and coordinating |
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discounts with gyms and fitness centers across the state. |
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(b) The statewide wellness coordinator shall coordinate |
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with other agencies that administer a health benefits program under |
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Chapter 1551 or 1601, Insurance Code, as necessary to implement the |
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wellness program, prevent duplication of efforts, and provide |
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information and resources to employees. |
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SECTION 5. The commissioner of state health services shall |
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adopt rules under Subchapter B, Chapter 664, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |