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.