House Bill 2446 aims to establish a licensure system for Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists (LDNs) in Arizona, overseen by the Department of Health Services. The bill would expand the scope of practice for LDNs, allowing them to order various nutritional therapies and tests in healthcare settings. It sets out the requirements for licensure, including education, supervised practice, examination, and continuing education, and details the process for license renewal and disciplinary actions. The bill also includes provisions for military members and grants the DHS Director enforcement authority, while exempting the department from rulemaking for one year to expedite the licensing process.

The bill introduces changes such as transitioning from "registered" to "licensed" status for dietitian nutritionists, expanding their authority, and establishing an advisory committee for licensing oversight. It prescribes fees for licensing and outlines qualifications for issuing orders in healthcare settings. The bill also includes educational prerequisites, supervised practice experience requirements, examination conditions, and continuing education for applicants. It prohibits licensure for individuals with recent disciplinary actions and provides the director with authority to deny or revoke licenses based on specific criteria. The legislature intends to limit initial licensure fees to $200.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-1901, 36-414, 36-416, 36-416.01, 13-3401, 32-1965, 32-1967, 32-1923, 32-1970, 32-1974, 36-2151, 32-1962, 32-1964, 36-422, 30-654, 32-1308, 32-1368, 32-2805, 36-405, 36-765.05, 36-766.06, 36-851.01, 36-882, 36-897.01, 36-1903, 36-2063, 36-4203, 35-190, 36-4201
House Engrossed Version: 32-1901, 36-414, 36-416, 36-416.01, 36-3601, 13-3401, 32-1965, 32-1967, 32-1923, 32-1970, 32-1974, 36-2151, 32-1962, 32-1964, 36-422, 30-654, 32-1308, 32-1368, 32-2805, 36-405, 36-765.05, 36-766.06, 36-851.01, 36-882, 36-897.01, 36-1903, 36-2063, 36-4203, 35-190, 36-4201, 12-2801