88R12525 JCG-F     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2016       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the licensing and regulation of dietitians.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 701.002, Occupations Code, is amended by   amending Subdivision (1-a) and adding Subdivisions (1-b) and (1-c)   to read as follows:                (1-a)  "Certifying entity" means the Commission on   Dietetic Registration or another entity that is accredited by the   National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American   National Standards Institute to issue credentials for the   professional practice of dietetics and is approved by the   department.                (1-b)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission of   Licensing and Regulation.                (1-c)  "Commission on Dietetic Registration" means the   commission that is accredited by the National Commission for   Certifying Agencies to issue credentials for the professional   practice of dietetics.          SECTION 2.  Sections 701.251(b) and (c), Occupations Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (b)  Unless the person holds an appropriate license issued   under this chapter, a person may not:                (1)  use the title or represent or imply that the person   has the title "licensed dietitian" [or "provisional licensed   dietitian"] or use the letters "LD" [or "PLD"]; or                (2)  use a facsimile of that title [those titles] to   indicate or imply that the person is a licensed dietitian [or   provisional licensed dietitian].          (c)  Unless the person is a dietitian registered by the   Commission on Dietetic Registration, a person may not:                (1)  use the title or represent or imply that the person   has the title "registered dietitian" or "registered dietitian   nutritionist" or use the letters "RD" or "RDN"; or                (2)  use a facsimile of those titles [that title] to   indicate or imply that the person is a dietitian registered by the   Commission on Dietetic Registration.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter F, Chapter 701, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 701.2525 to read as follows:          Sec. 701.2525.  LICENSE QUALIFICATIONS. An applicant for a   dietitian license must provide evidence satisfactory to the   department that the applicant:                (1)  is certified by a certifying entity as a   registered dietitian or an equivalent certification;                (2)  has met the education and experience requirements   for the registered dietitian standard or an equivalent standard   adopted by a certifying entity;                (3)  has passed the examination given by the Commission   on Dietetic Registration, or an equivalent examination offered by a   certifying entity, in dietetics;                (4)  is in compliance with all professional, ethical,   and disciplinary standards established by the certifying entity   under Subdivision (1); and                (5)  is not subject to any disciplinary action by the   certifying entity under Subdivision (1).          SECTION 4.  Sections 701.2575(a) and (b), Occupations Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department shall develop and administer [at least   twice each calendar year] a jurisprudence examination to determine   an applicant's knowledge of this chapter, commission rules under   this chapter, and any other applicable laws of this state affecting   the applicant's dietetics practice.          (b)  In addition to the [license] examination required by   Section 701.2525 [701.253], an applicant must pass a jurisprudence   examination to qualify for a license under this chapter.          SECTION 5.  Section 701.304, Occupations Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 701.304.  GROUNDS FOR REFUSING RENEWAL. The commission   or department may refuse to renew the license of a person who fails   to pay an administrative penalty imposed against the person under   Subchapter F, Chapter 51 [K], unless enforcement of the penalty is   stayed or a court has ordered that the administrative penalty is not   owed.          SECTION 6.  The following provisions of the Occupations Code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 701.002(9);                (2)  Section 701.1511;                (3)  Section 701.251(a);                (4)  Section 701.253;                (5)  Section 701.254;                (6)  Section 701.403; and                (7)  the heading for Subchapter K, Chapter 701.          SECTION 7.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act to   Subchapter F, Chapter 701, Occupations Code, apply only to an   application for a dietitian license submitted on or after January   1, 2024.  An application for a dietitian license submitted before   January 1, 2024, is governed by the law in effect immediately before   the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          (b)  A person who holds a dietitian license under Chapter   701, Occupations Code, on the effective date of this Act may   continue to renew that license without complying with Section   701.2525, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.