STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1220

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 116

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Government Operations and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 116 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT WORKSITE WELLNESS PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage each state agency and department to:

     (1)  Implement a worksite wellness program consistent with Department of Human Resources Development policies and procedures; and

     (2)  Identify a manager to serve as the wellness leader to collaborate with executive management and employees to create a worksite wellness infrastructure, oversee the development and implementation of employee wellness policies and committees, and provide ongoing assessment and monitoring of the effectiveness of the worksite wellness program.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Service Association, American Heart Association, and thirty-six individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF).

     Your Committees find that forty-one states have state-wide wellness programs, and many offer incentives to encourage employee participation.  Your Committees find that supporting and encouraging the health and wellness of State employees may lead to increased productivity in the workplace, as well as mitigate individual health care costs, much of which is borne by the State.  Your Committees note that there have been ongoing efforts to develop wellness programs by EUTF, and conclude this measure will provide additional support to those efforts.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending its title to accurately reflect its purpose; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 116, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair