HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 89

BYRepresentatives H. Sommers,  Hankins, Belcher, Sayan, B. Williams, Locke, Hine, Valle, P. King, Fisch, Schoon, Lux, Basich, Winsley, Unsoeld and Brekke; by request of Department of Personnel

Establishing wellness program for state employees.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Peery, Vice Chair; Baugher, Chandler, O'Brien, Sayan and Taylor.

House Staff:Pam Madson (786-7135)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (14)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Brekke, Ebersole, Hine, Holland, McMullen, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers and B. Williams.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (6)

     Signed by Representatives Braddock, Fuhrman, McLean, Nealey, Niemi and Sprenkle.

House Staff:    Randy Acker (786-7153)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Recent clinical evidence shows that about 50 percent of premature deaths, and a significant number of illnesses and injuries in the U.S. are due to unhealthy lifestyles.  This evidence has helped spur a proliferation of employee "wellness" (i.e., health promotion and fitness) programs throughout the U.S. in both the private and public sectors.

In June 1986, the Department of Personnel (DOP) hired a consulting firm to study the possibility of establishing a wellness program for Washington State employees.  On January 1, 1987, DOP released the firm's final report.  The report recommended that a separate unit with four full-time employees be created within DOP to implement a statewide wellness program.

The report recommended a 1987-89 biennium program budget of approximately $490,000 to serve the state's 41,000-plus merit system employees, and approximately $250,000 to serve the state's 30,000-plus higher education employees.  The Governor's budget request for the 1987-89 biennium includes only the $490,000 amount.

SUMMARY:

SECOND SUBSTITUTE:  The Washington State Department of Personnel (DOP) may develop and administer a voluntary state employee wellness program. Toward this end, the DOP director may:  (1) implement wellness policies, procedures, and activities; (2) encourage state agencies to establish wellness activities, and provide them with educational materials and technical assistance and training; and (3) track program effectiveness.

Information identifying employees participating in the program must be treated confidentially; it cannot be used to jeopardize any employee's job security, promotional opportunities, or other employment rights.

The DOP Service Fund can be used to administer the wellness program.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill makes two changes in the original bill:  (1) development of a wellness program by the director of the Department of Personnel is made discretionary, rather than mandatory; and (2) public access to information about the program, other than the identity of individual participants, is no longer restricted.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  The director of Department of Personnel is authorized to develop standards by which agencies sponsoring wellness activities may change a fee to employees participating in these activities in order to help defray costs.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Second substitute proposed.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (State Government)  Julia Graham and Bud Atkins, Department of Personnel; Larry Chapman, Corporate Health Designs; Les Brown, Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports; Dorothy Gerard, Higher Education Personnel Board; Ann Peterson, St. Peter Hospital; Fred Hellberg, Governor's Office; Eugene St. John, Washington Public Employees Association; Mark Brown, Washington Federation of State Employees; and Susan Johnson, Service Employees International Union.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)Leonard Nord, Department of Personnel; Fred Hellberg, Governors Office; Scott Sigmon, Washington Federation of State Employees; Dorothy Gerard, Higher Education Personnel Board; Patria Robinson-Martin, Department of Corrections.

House Committee - Testified Against: (State Government)  Don Doonan, state employee.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (State Government)  Following the lead of other states, the bill would designate a single state agency to guide, coordinate, and expand existing state agency wellness efforts.  The bill would result in increased worker productivity by helping to prevent illnesses, injuries, and deaths.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Creation of a wellness program will help to increase productivity and reduce employee absenteeism by reducing injuries and illness.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (State Government)  Although the concept of a state wellness program is sound, the bill in ineffective because its wellness program focuses too much on information dissemination and is housed within the wrong state agency.  Preferred alternatives include:  (1) negotiations by the Department of General Administration to install showers in all state buildings; and (2) provision of a wellness program to state employees through Blue Cross or the Department of Social and Health Services.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.