SB 412 - This act establishes provisions relating to dietitians, including reciprocity, nonrenewable temporary licenses, and the Dietitian Licensure Compact.RECIPROCITY FOR LICENSED DIETITIANS (SECTIONS 324.214)
This act provides any person who holds a valid current dietitian license issued by other jurisdictions as provided in the act and who has been licensed for at least one year may submit an application for a dietitian license in Missouri. The State Committee of Dietitians ("Committee") shall:
(1) Within six months of receiving an application, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements if it determines that there were minimum education requirements and, if applicable, work experience and clinical supervision requirements and the other jurisdiction verifies that those requirements were met. The Committee may require an applicant to pass an examination specific to Missouri laws; or
(2) Within thirty days of receiving an application from a nonresident military spouse or a resident military spouse, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements and issue a license.
The Committee shall not waive any such requirements for applicants who have a revoked license, are currently under investigation or disciplinary action, have a complaint pending, do not hold a license in good standing, have a criminal record that would disqualify licensure in Missouri, or do not hold a valid current license on the date of receipt of the application. Additionally, if another jurisdiction has taken disciplinary action against an applicant, the Committee shall determine if the cause was corrected and if the matter was resolved.
Furthermore, any person who is licensed under this act shall be subject to the Committee's jurisdiction and all rules and regulations pertaining to dietetics. Finally, this act shall not be construed to waive any requirement for fees of licensure.
These provisions are substantially similar to a provision in HB 2477 (2024).
NONRENEWABLE TEMPORARY LICENSES FOR DIETITIANS (SECTION 324.218)
This act establishes a temporary license for dietitians. Under the act, an applicant who has not previously taken or passed an examination recognized by the State Committee of Dietitians ("Committee") and who meets the qualifications for licensure as a dietitian may obtain without examination a nonrenewable temporary license by paying a temporary license fee and submitting to the Committee an agreement-to-supervise form that is signed by a licensed dietitian who has agreed to supervise the applicant and has active dietetics practice in this state for a minimum of one year. The temporary license shall expire the date the Committee is notified by the supervising dietitian that the temporary licensee's employment has ceased or within one hundred eighty days of its issuance, whichever occurs first.
This act further provides that the supervising dietitian shall not be an immediate family member of the temporary licensee. Additionally, the act requires the supervising dietitian to submit a signed notarized form attesting that the applicant shall begin employment at a location in this state within seven days of issuance of the temporary license. If the temporary licensee's employment ceases, the supervising dietitian shall notify the Committee within three days. Finally, this act provides that a supervising dietitian shall not supervise more than one temporary licensee at a time.
This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1053 (2024), in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), HB 1666 (2024), HB 845 (2023), and HB 873 (2023).
DIETITIAN LICENSURE COMPACT (SECTION 324.1800)
This act establishes the Dietitian Licensure Compact ("Compact"), which facilitates the interstate practice of dietetics and authorizes dietitians licensed in a participating state to practice in other participating states. The Compact sets forth the requirements to be met in order for a state to join and the requirements for a dietitian to obtain and exercise the ability to practice in other participating states.
The Compact further provides that a dietitian with compact privilege shall function within the scope of practice authorized by the participating state in which they seek to practice and shall be subject to that state's regulatory authority. A dietitian whose privilege in a participating state is encumbered or removed is not eligible for compact privilege in other participating states until the encumbrance or removal has passed and all requirements are met.
Additionally, the Compact creates a joint government agency known as the Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission and provides for its powers and duties, including the development and maintenance of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse actions, and investigative information on all licensees and applicants.
Furthermore, the Compact shall come into effect on the date in which the seventh state enacts the Compact into law. Any participating state may withdraw from the Compact by repealing the Compact, but such withdrawal shall not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of the repeal. Finally, the Compact shall be binding upon participating states and shall supersede any conflict with state law.
This provision is substantially similar to provisions in HB 2477 (2024).
KATIE O'BRIEN