State legislation to improve employee wellness.
OBJECTIVE
Categorize and describe the content and status of state legislation of worksite wellness.


METHODS
State worksite wellness legislation was compiled from the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity State Legislative Database (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DNPALeg/index.asp) and from LexisNexis (http://www.lexisnexis. com). Key word searches were used to gather worksite wellness legislation (2001-2006), with the exception of resolutions and those bills not pertaining to general employee wellness. Legislation was individually examined, categorized, and analyzed for content and status.


RESULTS
The four categories of state legislation that appeared to be most common were tax credits (n = 34; 0 passed), wellness policies and programs (n = 21; 4 passed), alternative transportation (n = 18; 4 passed), and health insurance (n = 14; 3 passed).


CONCLUSIONS
During 2001 to 2006, seven of 27 states enacted worksite wellness bills. In the three categories in which bills passed (wellness policies and programs, alternative transportation, and health insurance), 19% to 22% were enacted. This proportion, similar to other health promotions bills, indicates that worksite health promotion legislation passed as favorably as other health promotion topics. Further, the language in the bills did not recommend a specific standard for employee health, such as that in the national Healthy People 2010 objectives.
Lankford
Tina
T
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. tlankford@cdc.gov
Kruger
Judy
J
Bauer
Deborah
D
D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007183:Income Tax / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013219:State Government; D014186:Transportation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence