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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the state employee wellness program, including health |
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risk assessments of state employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 664.053, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The statewide wellness coordinator shall: |
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(1) coordinate with other agencies that administer a |
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health benefits program under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, as |
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necessary to develop the model wellness program, prevent |
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duplication of efforts, provide information and resources to |
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employees, and encourage the use of wellness benefits included in |
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the health benefits program; |
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(2) maintain a set of Internet links to health |
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resources for use by state employees; |
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(3) design an outreach campaign to educate state |
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employees about health and fitness-related resources, including |
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available exercise facilities, online tools, and health and |
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fitness-related organizations; |
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(4) study the implementation and participation rates |
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of state agency worksite wellness programs and report the findings |
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to the legislature biennially; [and] |
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(5) organize an annual conference hosted by the |
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department for all state agency wellness councils; and |
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(6) create an online questionnaire for state agency |
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heads to report information, including: |
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(A) the agency policy on leave time for employees |
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to complete a health risk assessment; |
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(B) the agency policy on leave time for employees |
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to receive an annual physical examination; |
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(C) the agency policy on providing employees time |
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during the workday to exercise; and |
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(D) whether the agency has a wellness coordinator |
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or council. |
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SECTION 2. Section 664.061, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 664.061. AGENCY WELLNESS POLICIES. (a) Each state |
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agency with more than 50 employees shall create and annually update |
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a worksite wellness policy. |
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(b) The executive head of a state agency shall submit the |
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agency's worksite wellness information to the statewide wellness |
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coordinator annually through the online questionnaire under |
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Section 664.053(b)(6). |
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(c) A state agency may: |
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(1) allow each employee 30 minutes during normal |
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working hours for exercise three times each week; |
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(2) allow all employees to attend on-site wellness |
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seminars when offered; and |
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(3) provide four [eight] hours of additional leave |
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time each year to an employee who[:
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[(A)] receives a physical examination. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a state agency |
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shall provide four hours of leave time each year to an employee who |
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[; and
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[(B)] completes either an online health risk |
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assessment tool provided by the board or a similar health risk |
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assessment conducted in person by a worksite wellness coordinator. |
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(e) A state agency is not required to provide the hours of |
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leave under Subsection (d) to an employee who is a correctional |
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officer and is performing critical duties for the agency as |
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determined by the agency. |
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(f) An institution of higher education as defined by Section |
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61.003, Education Code, may provide four hours of leave time each |
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year to an employee who completes either an online health risk |
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assessment tool provided by the board or a similar health risk |
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assessment conducted in person by a worksite wellness coordinator. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1551.061, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.061. ANNUAL REPORTS [REPORT]. (a) The board of |
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trustees shall submit a written report not later than January 1 of |
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each year to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and Legislative Budget Board concerning |
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the coverages provided and the benefits and services being received |
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by all participants under this chapter. The report must include |
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information about the effectiveness and efficiency of: |
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(1) managed care cost containment practices; and |
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(2) fraud detection and prevention procedures. |
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(b) The board of trustees shall submit a written report not |
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later than January 1 of each year to the governor and Legislative |
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Budget Board that includes: |
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(1) a population-based summary of the health risk |
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assessments completed under Section 664.061, Government Code, |
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during the preceding state fiscal year; and |
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(2) an evaluation of the Employees Retirement System |
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of Texas' weight management programs. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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* * * * * |