HB2820 Summary

• Establishes licensure requirements for dietitian nutritionists under a new Chapter 40 in Title 36, administered by the Department of Health Services, requiring registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration or completion of specific educational and clinical requirements.

• Allows licensed dietitian nutritionists and qualified nutrition professionals in hospitals and non-hospital health care institutions to order diets, enteral feeding, nutritional supplementation, parenteral nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and laboratory tests to track nutrition status when authorized by medical staff policies and procedures.

• Sets licensure qualifications including a baccalaureate degree or higher in nutrition or related field from an accredited institution, completion of a supervised clinical program with at least 1,000 hours, and passage of the registered dietitian examination or equivalent approved exam.

• Establishes license renewal every two years with continuing education requirements, fees not to exceed $200 for initial licensure, and creates an advisory committee of one physician, three licensed dietitian nutritionists, and one public member to advise the director.

• Authorizes the director to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for fraud, incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or violations of the licensure requirements, with civil penalties up to $500 for violations.