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

89(R) HB 4993 - Introduced version - Bill Text

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.