HB2558 Summary

• Establishes licensure requirements for dietitian nutritionists in Arizona under new Title 36, Chapter 42, administered by the Department of Health Services.

• Allows licensed dietitian nutritionists and qualified nutrition professionals in hospitals and nonhospital health care institutions to order diets, enteral feeding, nutritional supplementation, parenteral nutrition, durable medical equipment related to nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and laboratory tests to track nutrition status.

• Requires applicants for licensure to either hold current registration as a registered dietitian nutritionist with the Commission on Dietetic Registration or complete a baccalaureate degree in nutrition, pass a supervised clinical program of at least 1,000 hours, and pass a competency examination.

• Establishes the Department of Health Services' authority to issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses; prescribes a two-year license validity period with continuing education requirements; and allows civil penalties up to $500 for violations.

• Limits total fees for acquiring an initial dietitian nutritionist license to not exceed $200 and deposits 90% of collected fees into the health services licensing fund with 10% going to the general fund.