SR-14, As Adopted by Senate, March 15, 2007

            Substitute for Senate Resolution No. 14.

            A resolution to encourage the Governor to urge the Civil Service Commission to institute a wellness program that includes incentives for healthy behaviors for state employees.

            Whereas, The general health of Michigan's citizens can be vastly improved, as the state ranks third in the nation for the prevalence of obesity, and 27 percent of Michigan high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. For example, in comparison to Colorado, a state that ranks high in measures of general wellness, Michigan citizens have a 31 percent greater chance of dying of cardiovascular disease than Colorado citizens. The percentage of Michigan adults who smoke is at 23 percent and is above the national average; and

            Whereas, A portion of health care costs can be directly linked to the treatment of illness and disease that are the result of unhealthy behaviors. Twenty-five percent of health care costs are secondary to unhealthy behaviors and are therefore preventable. Over 80 percent of health care expenditures are for the treatment of people with one or more chronic diseases, some of which could have been prevented if people made and maintained healthier lifestyle choices. A growing body of evidence suggests unhealthy behavior is more likely to be altered in response to tangible incentives; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Senate is undertaking efforts to implement a wellness component in its benefit plans offered to Senate members and employees; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan can lead the way to a healthier Michigan by offering state employees a wellness program that encourages participants to make lifestyle choices that promote or maintain good health. Michigan can succeed and learn from the experience gained in other innovative state programs to take the next steps in demonstrating the benefits of wellness; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we encourage the Governor to urge the Civil Service Commission to institute a wellness program that includes incentives for healthy behaviors for state employees; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor.