SRC-JXG S.B. 1525 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1525 By: Madla Health Services 4/19/1999 As Filed DIGEST In 1983, under the Licensed Dietitian Act, the profession of dietetics was licensed. This Act is administered by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians, an independent state agency administratively attached to the Texas Department of Health. Licensed dietitians provide services including nutrition assessments, planning, counseling, care management, and evaluation as part of the health care delivery team, usually upon the order or referral of a physician or other practitioner. An individual who wants to qualify for licensure must have a baccalaureate degree in nutrition, dietetics, or a similar degree program from a regionally approved college or university, a supervised internship under the supervision of a licensed dietitian, and passed a state-administered or approved licensure examination. S.B. 1525 would add a new term to the services provided by a licensed dietitian, and would authorize the board to determine the qualifications of licensees that provide nutrition services. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1525 adds a new term to the definition of nutrition services, and grants rulemaking authority to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians in SECTION 3 (Section 6(d), Article 4512h, V.T.C.S.) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 2(10), Article 4512h, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Dietitians Act), to redefine "nutrition services." SECTION 2. Amends Section 2, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Dietitians Act), to define "medical nutrition therapy." SECTION 3. Amends Section 6, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Dietitians Act), to authorize the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians (board) to adopt procedures and standards necessary to determine the qualifications of persons licensed under this Act to provide nutrition services pursuant to law administered by other agencies of the state. Provides that the board is the sole agency authorized to determine such qualifications of persons licensed under this Act, notwithstanding any other law or rule. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.