This bill proposes significant updates to the current statutes regarding the licensing and practice of nutritionists in Arizona. It replaces the term "licensed" with "registered" for pharmacy technician trainees and allows licensed dietitian nutritionists to issue diet orders for various nutritional interventions. New definitions, such as "licensed dietitian nutritionist" and "qualified nutrition professional," are introduced, expanding the scope of practice for these professionals in both hospital and non-hospital settings. Additionally, a new chapter in the Arizona Revised Statutes will be established to outline the responsibilities of the Department of Health Services in regulating nutritionists, including provisions for licensing, continuing education, and the formation of an advisory committee. The bill also sets forth new requirements for obtaining an initial nutritionist license, including the completion of a master's or doctoral degree in nutrition, a structured supervised practice experience of at least one thousand hours, and a clean licensing history for the past two years. It mandates passing a relevant certification examination and outlines the qualifications for supervisors overseeing the practice experience. Furthermore, the bill establishes grounds for disciplinary actions, including license denial or revocation due to criminal convictions or unprofessional conduct, and exempts the Department of Health Services from certain rulemaking requirements for one year post-enactment while capping initial licensing fees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced 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