SPONSOR: Peters
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 18 to 1. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 7 to 0 with 1 voting present.
This bill establishes the "Dietitian Licensure Compact", which is an interstate agreement that allows the practice of dietetics across state lines within other states that are a part of the Compact. The bill outlines the licensing requirements, education requirements for the dietitians, and the duties of the member states.
The bill further proposes to establish a joint government agency known as the "Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission", which will administer and enforce the Compact, adopt rules and bylaws, maintain a data system, investigate complaints, report complaints to home states of dietitians, and perform other functions necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Compact.
Provisions of the bill ensure the Compact will not affect Missouri's license reciprocity laws.
This bill specifies that, a first time applicant who has not previously taken or passed an examination may obtain without examination a nonrenewable temporary license by paying a temporary license fee and submitting an agreement-to-supervise form that is signed by a licensed dietitian who has agreed to supervise the applicant. Such temporary licensee may practice dietetics, but any such practice must be under the supervision of a dietitian licensed in this State.
The supervising dietitian must have an unencumbered license to practice and he or she cannot be an immediate family member of the temporary licensee.
The temporary license obtained by an applicant will expire the date the licensee's employment with the supervising dietitian has ceased or within 180 days of its issuance, whichever occurs first.
This bill is similar to HB 2477, HB 1666 (2024), and HB 873 (2023).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this would allow students who have their master's degree to get more hands-on experience while being paid before taking the final exam. This would also allow dietitians to offer services in multiple states mainly through telehealth. Right now, if a patient moves out of state, the dietitian has to either transfer the patient's care or get additional licensure to continue offer services. It is vital that we continue care seamlessly. This would allow patients to stay with the providers they have built a relationship with. This will also allow Missouri to be competitive with other states.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Peters; Arnie Dienoff; Jennifer Bean; Jordan Mize; Lori Adams, Alo Nutrition; Cox Health.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: