Tennessee SB 2579: Dieticians and Nutritionists - As introduced, enacts the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act," which rewrites the requirements for licensure for the practice of dietetics and nutrition and makes other related changes; revises various provisions regarding the board of dietitians and nutritionists examiners, including expanding the board from five to nine members. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

Bill Text

House Finance, Ways, and Means 1

Amendment No. 2 to HB2029

Hicks G
Signature of Sponsor

AMEND Senate Bill No. 2579 House Bill No. 2029*

HA1068
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by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-249(a)(7), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(7) Board of dietitian and nutritionist examiners, created by § 63-25-106;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 25, Part 1, is amended by
deleting the part and substituting:
63-25-101. Short title.
This part is known and may be cited as the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act."
63-25-102. Legislative findings.
The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) The application of scientific knowledge relating to food is important in
the treatment of illness and disease and the attainment and maintenance of
health;
(2) There are currently no clear means for the public to identify the
qualifications of a person providing dietetic services and nutritional care for
infants, children, pregnant females, elderly persons, poor persons, overweight
persons, chronically and terminally ill persons, and fitness enthusiasts;
(3) Consumers and patients are becoming increasingly concerned about
their diets and nutrition as well as the effectiveness of the information and
services being offered to the public;

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(4) In order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, it is
necessary to define the qualifications and requirements for a person practicing as
a dietitian or nutritionist and offering dietetic or nutrition services to the public;
and
(5) It is the purpose of this chapter to restrict the use of certain titles to a
person who is professionally qualified to use such titles, ensuring that the person
is licensed to engage in the practice of medical nutrition therapy, and meets
minimum standards of proficiency and competency acquired through adequate
training and experience.
63-25-103. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Board" means the board of dietitian and nutritionist examiners;
(2) "Complex":
(A) Means a disease state, medical condition, or clinical
presentation that requires the provision of medical nutrition therapy by a
licensed dietitian due to one (1) or more of the following conditions:
(i) The presence of multiple or interacting high-acuity
comorbidities;
(ii) A high risk of complications or rapid clinical
deterioration;
(iii) The need for intensive monitoring; or
(iv) The need for advanced nutrition interventions,
including therapeutic diets administered via enteral or parenteral
routes; and
(B) Includes:
(i) Severe malnutrition;
(ii) Organ failure;

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(iii) Conditions requiring enteral or parenteral nutrition;
(iv) Renal disease requiring dialysis;
(v) Severe metabolic disturbances;
(vi) Post-bariatric surgery care; and
(vii) Critical illness;
(3) "Degree" means a credential attainment received from an educational
institution that at the time the degree was awarded was accredited by a United
States institutional accrediting body for higher education recognized by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor organization, the
United States department of education, or a foreign equivalent deemed
acceptable to the board;
(4) "Department" means the department of health;
(5) "Division" means the division of health related boards within the
department;
(6) "General non-medical nutrition information" means information on any
of the following:
(A) Principles of human nutrition and food preparation;
(B) Principles of self-care and a healthy relationship with food;
(C) Essential nutrients needed by the human body;
(D) General and non-individualized recommended amounts of
essential nutrients in the human body;
(E) Actions of nutrients in the human body;
(F) Non-individualized effects of deficiencies or excesses of
nutrients in the human body; or
(G) General education surrounding food, herbs, and dietary
supplements that are good sources of essential nutrients in the human
body;

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(7) "Licensed dietitian" means a person duly licensed under this chapter
who engages in the practice of dietetics and the practice of nutrition;
(8) "Licensed nutritionist" means a person duly licensed under this
chapter who engages in the practice of nutrition;
(9) "Medical nutrition therapy" means the provision of at least one (1) of
the following nutrition care services for the purpose of management or treatment
of a disease or medical condition:
(A) Nutrition assessment;
(B) Nutrition diagnosis;
(C) Nutrition intervention; or
(D) Nutrition monitoring and evaluation;
(10) "Medical weight control" means medical nutrition therapy provided
for the purpose of reducing, maintaining, or gaining weight;
(11) "Non-complex":
(A) Means a disease state, medical condition, or clinical
presentation that is stable and that can be safely addressed through
medical nutrition therapy delivered in a low-acuity outpatient setting