Each county or city-county health department may establish a Wellness Council to develop a wellness program for its employees. Participation in the program shall be available to all full-time employees. The Wellness Council shall establish determining factors in order to monitor achievement of and maintenance of healthy lifestyles with the ultimate goal of reduction of claims and subsequent reduction of costs for health insurance.

Each county or city-county health department may establish a separate fund to be designated as the “Wellness Program Fund”. The Wellness Program Fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations and shall consist of all monies received by the Wellness Council through general county funds and through grants, donations, contributions and gifts from public or private sources. Monies from the Wellness Program Fund may be used for incentives to encourage participation by employees and for costs related to the operation of the Wellness Council.

The Wellness Council shall track the number of participants, the cost of insurance premiums, and expenditure of funds on an annual basis and report findings to the board of county commissioners or the city-county board of health at a regularly scheduled meeting in January. All reporting shall be in strict compliance with all privacy laws.