HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 152

(By Delegates Fleischauer, Barill, Caputo, Diserio, Eldridge, A. Evans, Ferns, Ferro, Fragale, Guthrie, Hartman, Iaquinta, Jones, Lawrence, Moore, Paxton, Perry, Pethtel, M. Poling, Poore, Romine, Skaff, Skinner, Sponaugle, Staggers, Storch, Stowers and Wells)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study how to engage West Virginia's large employers, public and private, to bring about a health-culture transformation among their employee bases.

    Whereas, West Virginia ranks 48th in the nation in overall health outcomes while being among the highest in the nation in categories such as smoking, drug and alcohol use, and poor nutritional choices; and

    Whereas, Behavior change is difficult for most people to start and sustain, especially in a state-wide culture that supports unhealthy behaviors; and

    Whereas, Health benefit incentive and cost sharing programs for healthy behaviors engage people in making more informed consumer healthcare decisions, but do not necessarily result in behavior changes; and

    Whereas, Only 10 percent of the average employee population currently uses their employers' health and wellness programs; and

    Whereas, Employers play an important role in their employees' lives and can serve as an extremely powerful point of leverage to encourage health behaviors; and

    Whereas, There is a natural business imperative to encouraging employees to adopt healthy lifestyles to enhance personal and organizational success; and

    Whereas, We have world-class behavior-change programs developed in West Virginia that can be used to improve the health of West Virginia’s workforce and used in a way that protects personal privacy while encouraging health cultural change; and

    Whereas, West Virginia's large employers have always been powerful forces for cultural change for behaviors that at one time were considered to be optional, such as safety, education and retirement planning; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study how to engage West Virginia's large employers, public and private, to bring about a health-culture transformation among their employee bases; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, no later than the first day of the regular session, 2014, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, if any, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.