By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 14               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), (1-c),   (10), and (11) to read as follows:                (1-a)  "Certifying entity" means:                      (A)  the Commission on Dietetic Registration; or                      (B)  another entity that has standards equivalent   to the standards of the entity described by Paragraph (A), is   accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies 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.                (10)  "Registered dietitian" means a person who is   credentialed by a certifying entity as a registered dietitian.                (11)  "Registered dietitian nutritionist" means a   person who is credentialed by a certifying entity as a registered   dietitian nutritionist.          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 dietitian   or registered dietitian nutritionist [by the Commission on Dietetic   Registration], a person may not, as applicable:                (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   dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist [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 a registered dietitian or registered dietitian   nutritionist;                (2)  has met the following education and experience   requirements:                      (A)  possesses at least a master's degree,   accepted by the certifying entity, conferred by a regionally   accredited college or university under an accredited program that   is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education under the   Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.); and                      (B)  has completed an internship, didactic   program, or other supervised experience or practice program in   dietetics practice that is accepted by the certifying entity and is   accredited by a body recognized by the United States Secretary of   Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section   1001 et seq.);                (3)  has passed the examination given by the applicable   certifying entity;                (4)  is in compliance with all professional, ethical,   and disciplinary standards established by the applicable   certifying entity; and                (5)  is not subject to any disciplinary action by the   applicable certifying entity.          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 to 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.          (c)  Notwithstanding Section 701.2525, Occupations Code, as   added by this Act, a person who was credentialed as a registered   dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist as defined by   Section 701.002, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, before   January 1, 2024, and who continues to hold that credential may apply   for a dietitian license without complying with Subchapter F,   Chapter 701, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. An   application for a dietitian license submitted by a person described   by this subsection 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.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.