HB 561 Summary

• Amends Florida law to include diabetes educators in the definition of "health care practitioner" under chapter 456.001, Florida Statutes.

• Creates Part XVII of chapter 468 to establish a registration system for diabetes educators administered by the Department of Health, with implementation required by July 1, 2019.

• Requires applicants to provide proof of certification from the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators or American Association of Diabetes Educators, or alternatively 250 practice hours (100 in the preceding year) plus passage of a national exam and additional credentials in health care, clinical exercise physiology, or social work.

• Establishes registration fees not exceeding $100 for application, $100 for initial registration, $80 for biennial renewal, and $135 for reactivation of inactive registration.

• Prohibits unregistered persons from providing diabetes self-management training or representing themselves as diabetes educators, with exemptions for licensed emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and federal employees; authorizes the department to deny, revoke, or suspend registration for violations.