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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 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 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter V to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER V. EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 161.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "department" |
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means the Department of State Health Services. |
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Sec. 161.602. CREATION OF MODEL PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall develop for use by private employers a model |
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statewide wellness program to improve the health and wellness of |
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employees. The wellness program may include: |
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(1) education that targets the most costly or |
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prevalent health care claims, including information addressing |
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stress management, nutrition, healthy eating habits, alcohol and |
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drug abuse, physical activity, disease prevention, and smoking |
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cessation; |
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(2) the dissemination or use of available health risk |
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assessment tools and programs, including surveys that identify an |
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employee's risk level for health-related problems and programs that |
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suggest to employees methods for minimizing risks; |
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(3) the development of strategies for the promotion of |
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health, nutritional, and fitness-related resources in the |
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workplace; |
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(4) the development and promotion of environmental |
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change strategies that integrate healthy behaviors and physical |
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activity, including recommending healthy food choices in snack |
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bars, vending machines, and employer-run cafeterias; and |
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(5) optional incentives to encourage participation in |
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the wellness program, including providing flexibility in employee |
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scheduling to allow for physical activity and participation in the |
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wellness program and coordinating discounts with gyms and fitness |
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centers across the state. |
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(b) The department 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, or |
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Chapter 664, Government Code, as necessary to develop the model |
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wellness program and prevent duplication of efforts; |
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(2) maintain a set of Internet links to health |
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resources for use by private employers and employees; |
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(3) design an outreach campaign to educate private |
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employers and employees about health and fitness-related |
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resources, including available exercise facilities, online tools, |
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and health and fitness-related organizations; and |
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(4) study the implementation and participation rates |
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of wellness programs implemented by private employers and report |
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the findings to the legislature biennially. |
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(c) The department may assist a private employer in |
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establishing employee wellness demonstration projects that |
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incorporate best practices for encouraging employee participation |
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and the achievement of wellness benefits. An employee wellness |
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demonstration project may implement strategies to optimize the |
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return of employer investment in employee wellness, including |
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savings in direct health care costs and savings from preventing |
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conditions and diagnoses through better employee wellness. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |