Establishes a task force on occupational wellness

BILL NUMBER:S3962A

Title of bill

An act to establish a task force on occupational wellness and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Purpose

To provide for a task force to substantively undertake a study of the subject of occupational wellness as it relates to employees, employers, the health care industry, insurance premiums, best practices and other tangentially related subjects akin.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 - Details the legislative findings and intent relative to the value and benefit of occupational wellness programs to the overall health and well-being of individual employees and to the associated business or corporate enterprise offering such programs.

Section 2 - Creates a task force on occupational wellness within the New York State Department of Health. Specifies appointment power relative to membership on the panel, including the requirement that at least one member be a small business owner. Designates a member from the Department of Health as the Director of the task force; authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Health to assign personnel to the task force.

Subsection 2 of Section 2 enumerates the primary research agenda for the task force--To study and evaluate the existing state of employees health and ascertain if their health can be improved by employers implementing an occupational wellness program.

Subsection 3 of Section 2 establishes the requirement that the task force prepare a report on or before January 1, 2014 and share it with governmental principals.

The report shall include information on occupational wellness programs, specifically--

A. If such programs would be beneficial to the citizens of New York State.

B. How such programs can be improved.

C. History of the concept, where and how it has worked, costs and implications of such programs.

D. Creation of a blueprint of the best practices of wellness, concrete steps to realize the concept in practice.

Justification

Occupational wellness programs have been undertaken by major companies and organizations throughout the United States. The

conjoined subject of preventative health care is another issue that is germinating into a major area of policymaking concern. There is clear evidence of the direct benefit of occupational wellness programs to the literal, physical and mental health of employees. In addition, studies have shown that such programs have a territory benefit to employers relative to job performance, health care and insurance costs, and other synonymous factors. For more specific information, see Senate Bill and corresponding memoranda concerning S.3835 of 2005 - 2006. It is quite clear that the entirety of New York State-- individuals, families, collectivities, proprietors, organizations, small businesses, corporations, the health care and insurance industries, the business climate -- can all benefit from a substantive exposition of the potential multicolinear paradigmatic panacea that is occupational wellness.

Legislative history

Senate 2433 of 2007-08/REFERRED TO HEALTH Senate 5051 of 2009-10/REFERRED TO HEALTH Senate 3962 of 2011-12/REFERRED TO HEALTH

Fiscal implications

None of note.

Effective date

On the 120th day after it shall have become law.