SRC-JXG C.S.S.B. 1525 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1525
76R13021 SMH-FBy: Madla
Health Services
4/21/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


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 (board), 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. C.S.S.B. 1525 would add "medical nutrition therapy" 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, C.S.S.B. 1525 adds the definition of "medical nutrition
therapy" to the services provided by a licensed dietitian, 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 2 (Section 6(d), Article 4512h, V.T.C.S.) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S. (Licensed Dietitian
Act), to redefine "nutrition services" and to define "medical nutrition
therapy." Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 6, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S., by adding Subsection
(d), to authorize the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians (board)
to adopt procedures and standards necessary to determine the qualifications
of a person licensed under this Act to provide nutrition services under a
law administered by another state agency. Provides that the board is the
only state agency authorized to determine the qualifications of a person
licensed under this Act to provide those services, notwithstanding any
other law or rule. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
          


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 2, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S., to add the definition of
"medical nutrition  therapy." Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.
Redesignates proposed SECTION 2 as SECTION 1. 

SECTION 2.

Amends Section 6, Article 4512h, V.T.C.S., to authorize the board to adopt
procedures and standards necessary to determine the qualifications of a
person licensed under this Act to provide nutrition services under a law
administered by another state agency. Provides that the board is the only
state agency authorized to determine the qualifications of a person
licensed under this Act to provide those services, notwithstanding any
other law or rule. Makes conforming changes. Redesignates proposed SECTION
3 as SECTION 2. 

SECTION 3.

 Adds the effective date of September 1, 1999.