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.