BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 627
89R5470 DNC-F	By: Zaffirini
	Business & Commerce
	2/5/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) ceased offering new provisional dietitian licenses in 2017, yet references to provisional licensed dietitians persist in current law. What's more, TDLR's enabling statute was changed by the 2021 Sunset legislation to remove ambiguous language requiring TDLR to determine if a licensure applicant "lacks the honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity to hold a license issued by the department." Current law, however, still has a reference to TDLR determining the fitness of dietitian license applicants. 

S.B. 627 would cure these defects by removing obsolete language and bringing the law into alignment with current TDLR dietitian licensure practices. 

As proposed, S.B. 627 amends current law relating to the licensing and regulation of dietitians.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 701.151(b), Occupations Code, as follows:

(b) Deletes existing text requiring the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (TCLR) or the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), as appropriate, to establish the fitness of applicants for licenses, including renewed and reciprocal licenses.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 701.251(b), Occupations Code, as follows:

(b) Deletes existing text prohibiting a person, unless the person holds an appropriate license issued under Chapter 701 (Dietitians), from using the title or representing or implying that the person has the title "provisional licensed dietitian" or using the letters "PLD" or using a facsimile of that title to indicate or imply that the person is a provisional licensed dietitian. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 701.304, Occupations Code, as follows:

Sec. 701.304.� GROUNDS FOR REFUSING RENEWAL. Authorizes TCLR or TDLR to refuse to renew the license of a person who fails to pay an administrative penalty imposed against the person under Subchapter F (Administrative Penalty), Chapter 51 (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation), rather than Subchapter K, unless enforcement of the penalty is stayed or a court has ordered that the administrative penalty is not owed.

SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 701.002(9) (relating to defining "provisional licensed dietitian"), Occupations Code.

Repealers: Sections 701.1511 (Registry) and 701.403 (Sanctions), Occupations Code.

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2025.