HB4993 - Relating to the improvement of health, fitness, and readiness of the Texas military forces.

  89R16003 MCK-F     By: Isaac H.B. No. 4993       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the improvement of health, fitness, and readiness of   the Texas military forces.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Texas Military   Forces Health and Readiness Act.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 437, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter J to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER J.   HEALTH AND READINESS           Sec.   437.451.     FITNESS STANDARDS. (a)   The department shall   establish and post on the department's Internet website baseline   fitness standards aligned with fitness requirements of the United   States armed forces and the specific operational needs of this   state in order to ensure clear performance expectations for service   members.             (b)     To assist service members in meeting the fitness   standards established under Subsection (a), the department shall:                 (1)     develop partnerships with fitness facilities in   this state to provide gym memberships for service members;                 (2)     ensure access to certified fitness professionals   and training specialists to support service members in meeting the   fitness standards; and                 (3)     establish fitness centers for service members with   specialized equipment and training programs to support mission   readiness.           Sec.   437.452.     DIGITAL HEALTH INTEGRATION PLATFORM. The   department shall develop and implement a digital fitness platform   for service members. The platform must:                 (1)     provide real-time health monitoring, personalized   training plans, and performance tracking;                 (2)     include injury prevention guidance, early   intervention protocols, and mental resilience tools; and                 (3)     ensure secure data integration with existing   department health systems.           Sec.   437.453.     COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS SUPPORT PROGRAM. The   department shall establish an integrated health and resilience   program to provide professional injury rehabilitation services,   mental health support, and dietary counseling to service members.   The program must include:                 (1)     enhanced meal plans in dining facilities, access   to meal preparation services, and nutrition education tailored to   performance goals;                 (2)     if covered by gifts, grants, or donations, family   and spousal fitness benefits, including gym memberships,   resilience training, and wellness workshops; and                 (3)     unit-based counseling, confidential crisis   intervention services for at-risk personnel, and stress management   and resilience training as part of a holistic wellness approach.           Sec.   437.454.     PERFORMANCE RECOGNITION FRAMEWORK. The   department shall implement an annual fitness excellence program   that:                 (1)     provides awards for superior fitness   achievements;                 (2)     offers career advancement opportunities in   recognition of superior fitness achievements of service members,   including specialized training and leadership development; and                 (3)     recognizes individual and unit-level achievement   through ceremonies and public events.           Sec.   437.455.     ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.   (a)   The department shall submit quarterly reports to the   legislature regarding the activities of the department under this   subchapter.   The reports must include:                 (1)  the participation rates of service members;                 (2)     aggregated information on changes in service   members' fitness and health indicators;                 (3)     the overall impact of the activities on service   member readiness and deployment;                 (4)     cost-benefit analyses and return-on-investment   calculations; and                 (5)     recommendations for optimization and expansion of   activities to ensure continued effectiveness and sustainability.           (b)     The department shall implement corrective action plans   if a report indicates a decline in fitness readiness rates. Any   corrective action must be implemented not later than the 10th day   after the date the report is published.           (c)  The department shall:                 (1)     assign fitness and wellness officers to each unit   to monitor compliance with goals; and                 (2)     establish fitness mentorship programs, pairing   high-performing members with members who are struggling to meet   readiness standards.           Sec.   437.456.     FUNDING; AGREEMENTS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES.     (a)   The department may implement this subchapter using any funds   available to the department for that purpose, including:                 (1)  money appropriated to the department; and                 (2)  federal grant funding.           (b)     The department may enter into an agreement with a   private entity located in this state that provides fitness, health,   or nutrition services in order to implement this subchapter.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.