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Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 1154
By
Senator Bernard
24-01488-26 20261154__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Dietetics and Nutrition
3 Practice Act; amending s. 468.502, F.S.; revising
4 legislative findings, purpose, and intent; amending s.
5 468.503, F.S.; revising definitions and defining
6 terms; amending s. 468.504, F.S.; prohibiting persons
7 from engaging in specified conduct without holding the
8 applicable license; amending s. 468.505, F.S.;
9 revising exemptions from licensure requirements;
10 providing construction; deleting obsolete provisions;
11 amending s. 468.506, F.S.; revising the membership of
12 the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council; amending
13 s. 468.509, F.S.; revising licensure requirements for
14 dietitians and nutritionists; providing that persons
15 licensed or who have applied for licensure before a
16 specified date remain licensed, eligible for
17 reactivation of licensure, or eligible for licensure,
18 as applicable, under requirements in effect at the
19 time of application, provided certain conditions are
20 met; requiring that certain persons licensed as a
21 dietitian/nutritionist or a nutrition counselor as of
22 a specified date be issued a license to practice as a
23 dietitian or nutritionist, as applicable, without
24 meeting additional requirements, provided certain
25 conditions are met; deleting obsolete provisions;
26 amending s. 468.51, F.S.; conforming a provision to
27 changes made by the act; amending s. 468.511, F.S.;
28 revising requirements for temporary permits to
29 practice as a dietitian or nutritionist; deleting
30 obsolete provisions; amending ss. 468.512 and 468.513,
31 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the
32 act; amending s. 468.516, F.S.; specifying
33 requirements an individual must meet to be a qualified
34 supervisor for purposes of the act; deleting certain
35 practice requirements for dietitians and
36 nutritionists; amending ss. 468.517, 468.518,
37 381.00593, 501.0573, and 501.0575 F.S.; conforming
38 provisions to changes made by the act; providing an
39 effective date.
40
41 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
42
43 Section 1. Section 468.502, Florida Statutes, is amended to
44 read:
45 468.502 Purpose and intent.—The Legislature finds that the
46 practice of dietetics and
the practice of
nutrition
or nutrition
47
counseling
by unskilled and incompetent practitioners
present
48
presents
a danger to the public health and safety. The
49 Legislature further finds that it is difficult for the public to
50 make informed choices about dietitians and nutritionists and
51 that the consequences of wrong choices could seriously endanger
52 the public health and safety. The sole legislative purpose in
53 enacting this part is to ensure that every person who practices
54
medical nutrition therapy
dietetics and nutrition or nutrition
55
counseling
in this state meets minimum requirements for safe
56 practice. It is the legislative intent that any person
57 practicing
as a dietitian or nutritionist
dietetics and
58
nutrition or nutrition counseling
who falls below minimum
59 competency or who otherwise presents a danger to the public be
60 prohibited from practicing in this state. It is also the intent
61 of the Legislature that the practice of
medical
nutrition
62
therapy
counseling
be authorized and regulated solely within the
63 limits expressly provided by this part and any rules adopted
64 pursuant thereto.
65 Section 2. Section 468.503, Florida Statutes, is amended to
66 read:
67 468.503 Definitions.—As used in this part:
68 (1) “Board” means the Board of Medicine.
69 (2) “Commission” means the Commission on Dietetic
70 Registration, the credentialing agency of the Academy of
71 Nutrition and Dietetics.
72 (3)
“Complex
,
”
with respect to a
disease state, medical
73
condition, or clinical presentation
, means requiring
the
74
provision of medical nutrition therapy by a licensed dietitian
75
due to one or more of the following:
76
(a)
I
nstability of the patient’s health status
.
77
(b)
T
he presence of multiple or interacting comorbidities
.
78
(c)
A
high risk of complications or rapid clinical
79
deterioration
.
80
(d)
T
he need for intensive monitoring
.
81
(e)
T
he need for advanced nutrition interventions
,
82
including therapeutic diets administered
through
enteral or
83
parenteral routes.
84
85
Complex disease states
, medical
conditions
, or clinical
86
presentations
include, but are not limited to, severe
87
malnutrition, organ failure, conditions requiring enteral or
88
parenteral nutrition, renal disease requiring dialysis, severe
89
metabolic disturbances, post-bariatric surgery care, and
90
critical illness.
91
(4)
“Degree” means a degree received from an educational
92
institution that at the time the degree was awarded was
93
accredited by a
national
institutional accrediting body for
94
higher education recognized by the Council for Higher Education
95
Accreditation, the
United States
Department of Education, or a
96
foreign equivalent
approved by the board
.
97
(5)
“Department” means the Department of Health.
98
(4) “Dietetics” means the integration and application of
99
the principles derived from the sciences of nutrition,
100
biochemistry, food, physiology, and management and from the
101
behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain a
102
person’s health throughout the person’s life. It is an integral
103
part of preventive, diagnostic, curative, and restorative health
104
care of individuals, groups, or both.
105
(5) “Dietetics and nutrition practice” shall include
106
assessing nutrition needs and status using appropriate data;
107
recommending appropriate dietary regimens, nutrition support,
108
and nutrient intake; ordering therapeutic diets; improving
109
health status through nutrition research, counseling, and
110
education; and developing, implementing, and managing nutrition
111
care systems, which includes, but is not limited to, evaluating,
112
modifying, and maintaining appropriate standards of high quality
113
in food and nutrition care services.
114 (6) “Dietetic technician” means a person who assists in the
115 provision of dietetic and nutrition services under the
116 supervision of a qualified professional.
117 (7)
“
General nonmedical nutrition information” means
118
information on any of the following:
119
(
a
)
Principles of human nutrition and food preparation.
120
(
b
)
Principles of self-care and a healthy relationship with
121
food.
122
(
c
)
Essential nutrients needed by the human body.
123
(d)
G
eneral and nonindividualized recommended amounts of
124
essential nutrients in the human body.
125
(e)
Actions of nutrients in the human body.
126
(f)
Nonindividualized effects of deficiencies or excesses
127
of nutrients in the human body.
128
(
g
)
General education
on
foods, herbs, and dietary
129
supplements that are good sources of essential nutrients in the
130
human body.
131
(8)
“Licensed
dietitian
dietitian/nutritionist
” means a
132 person licensed
under s. 468.509(1) to engage in the practice of
133
dietetics and the practice of nutrition, including the provision
134
of medical nutrition therapy
pursuant to s. 468.509
.
135
(9)
(8)
“Licensed nutrition counselor” means a person
136 licensed pursuant to s. 468.51.
137
(10)
“Licensed nutritionist” means
a person licensed under
138
s. 468.509(2) to engage in the practice of nutrition, including
139
the provision of noncomplex medical nutrition therapy.
140
(11)
“Medical nutrition therapy” means the provision of any
141
of the following nutrition care services for the purpose of
142
management or treatment of a disease or medical condition:
143
(
a
)
N
utrition assessment
.
144
(b)
N
utrition diagnosis
.
145
(c)
N
utrition intervention
.
146
(d)
N
utrition monitoring and evaluation.
147
(12)
“Medical weight control” means medical nutrition
148
therapy provided for the purpose of reducing, maintaining, or
149
gaining weight.
150
(13)
“Noncomplex
,
”
with respect to
a disease state, medical
151
condition, or clinical presentation
, means one that
is stable or
152
well-managed, does not involve rapid clinical deterioration or
153
high-acuity care needs, and can be safely addressed through
154
medical nutrition therapy delivered in low-acuity outpatient
155
settings by a practitioner practicing within
his or her
156
demonstrated level of competence. Noncomplex
disease states,
157
medical conditions, or clinical presentations
do not require
158
intensive monitoring, do not involve multiple interacting
159
comorbidities, and do not necessitate advanced interventions
,
160
such as therapeutic diets delivered
through
enteral or
161
parenteral nutrition.
162
(14)
“Nonmedical weight control” means nutrition care
163
services for the purpose of reducing, maintaining, or gaining
164
weight
which
do not constitute the treatment or management of a
165
disease or medical condition. The term includes weight control
166
services for healthy population groups to achieve or maintain a
167
healthy weight.
168
(15)
(9)
“Nutrition assessment” means the
ongoing, dynamic,
169
and systematic process of ordering, obtaining, verifying, and
170
interpreting biochemical, anthropometric, physical,
171
nutrigenomic, and dietary data to make decisions about the
172
nature and cause of nutrition-related problems relative to
173
patient and community needs.
Such assessment
involves not only
174
initial data collection, but also reassessment and analysis of
175
patient or community needs and provides the foundation for
176
nutrition diagnosis and nutritional recommendations and orders.
177
Nutrition assessment may require ordering laboratory tests to
178
check and track nutritional status. The collection of nutrition
179
related data does not, by itself, constitute
a
nutrition
180
assessment.
181
(16)
“Nutrition care process” means the systematic problem
182
solving method that licensed dietitians use to critically think
183
and make decisions when providing medical nutrition therapy or
184
to address nutrition-related problems and provide safe and
185
effective care. The nutrition care process consists of four
186
distinct, but interrelated steps
,
including nutrition
187
assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and
188
nutrition monitoring and evaluation.
189
(17)
“Nutrition care services” means any part or all of the
190
following services provided within a systematic process
of care
:
191
(
a
)
A
ssessing and evaluating the nutritional needs of
192
individuals and groups and determining resources and constraints
193
in a practice setting, including ordering of nutrition-related
194
laboratory tests to check and track nutrition status.
195
(b)
I
dentifying nutrition problems and establishing
196
priorities, goals, and objectives that meet nutritional needs
197
and are consistent with available resources and constraints.
198
(
c
)
C
reating individualized dietary plans and issuing and
199
implementing orders to meet nutritional needs of healthy
200
individuals and individuals with diseases or medical conditions,
201
including ordering therapeutic diets and monitoring the
ir
202
effectiveness.
203
(d)
D
etermining and providing appropriate nutrition
204
intervention in health and disease, including nutrition
205
counseling on food and prescription drug interactions.
206
(e)
D
eveloping, implementing, and managing nutrition care
207
systems.
208
(f)
E
valuating, making changes in, and maintaining
209
appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition services
210
evaluation of the nutrition needs of individuals or groups,
211
using appropriate data to determine nutrient needs or status and
212
make appropriate nutrition recommendations
.
213
(1
8
)
(10)
“Nutrition counseling” means
a supportive process,
214
characterized by a collaborative counselor-patient relationship
215
with individuals or groups, to establish food and nutrition
216
priorities, goals, and individualized action plans and general
217
physical activity guidance,
which process
acknowledge
s
and
218
foster
s
responsibility for self-care to promote health and
219
wellness or to treat or manage an existing disease or medical
220
condition
advising and assisting individuals or groups on
221
appropriate nutrition intake by integrating information from the
222
nutrition assessment
.
223
(19)
“Nutrition diagnosis” means identifying and labeling
224
nutrition problems managed and treated by a licensed dietitian
225
or licensed nutritionist but does not include a medical
226
diagnosis of the health status of an individual.
227
(20)
“Nutrition intervention” means purposefully planned
228
actions, including nutrition counseling, intended to positively
229
change a nutrition-related behavior, risk factor, environmental
230
condition, or aspect of health status of an individual and his
231
or her family or caregivers, target groups, or community at
232
large.
The term includes
approving, ordering, and monitoring
233
therapeutic diets and counseling on food and prescription drug
234
interactions.
235
(21)
“Nutrition monitoring and evaluation” means
236
identifying patient outcomes relevant to the nutrition
237
diagnosis, intervention plans, and goals and comparing those
238
outcomes with previous status, intervention goals, or a
239
reference standard to determine the progress made in achieving
240
desired outcomes of nutrition care and whether planned
241
interventions should be continued or revised.
242
(2
2
)
“Patient” means an individual
who is the
recipient of
243
nutrition care services
from a person licensed under this part
.
244
(23)
“Practice of dietetics” means the integration and
245
application of scientific principles derived from the study of
246
food, nutrition, biochemistry, metabolism, nutrigenomics,
247
physiology, pharmacology, food systems,
food
management, and
248
behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain optimal
249
nutrition status of individuals and groups across the
ir
250
lifespan
s
. The
term
includes the provision of nutrition care
251
services, including medical nutrition therapy, delivered in
252
person or
through
telehealth, to prevent, manage, or treat
253
complex diseases or medical conditions and promote wellness in
254
inpatient and outpatient settings. The
term also includes
255
developing and ordering therapeutic diets,
through
oral,
256
enteral, and parenteral routes
,
and providing other advanced
257
medical nutrition therapy and related support activities
258
consistent with current competencies required of academic and
259
supervised practice programs accredited by the Accreditation
260
Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics and in
261
accord
ance
with the
c
ommission’s Scope and Standards of Practice
262
for the Registered Dietitian.
263
(24)
“Practice of nutrition” means the integration and
264
application of scientific principles derived from the study of
265
nutrition science, cellular and systemic metabolism,
266
biochemistry, physiology, and behavioral sciences to support and
267
maintain health throughout the lifespan. T
he term includes
the
268
provision of nutrition care services, including medical
269
nutrition therapy, delivered in person or
through
telehealth,
270
for the prevention, management, or treatment of noncomplex
271
diseases and medical conditions in low-acuity outpatient
272
settings, and for the promotion of wellness.
The term also
273
includes, c
onsistent with
the practitioner’s
level of
274
competence, ordering oral therapeutic diets
,
ordering medical
275
laboratory tests related to nutrition interventions
,
and
276
recommending vitamin, mineral, and other dietary supplements.
277
The
term
excludes the provision of medical nutrition therapy for
278
complex conditions and the delivery of medical nutrition therapy
279
in inpatient or high-acuity outpatient settings.
280
(25)
“Qualified supervisor” means an individual
meeting the
281
requirements of s.
468.516
who
provid
es
supervision
and
assumes
282
full professional responsibility for the work of the supervisee
283
by verifying, directing, and approving the provided nutrition
284
care services, medical nutrition therapy, and other work being
285
supervised.
286
(11) “Preprofessional experience component” means a planned
287
and continuous supervised practice experience in dietetics or
288
nutrition
.
289
(26)
(12)
“Registered dietitian”
or “registered
290
dietitian/nutritionist”
means
a person credentialed as a
291
registered dietitian or a registered dietitian nutritionist by
292
the
commission
or its successor organization and authorized to
293
use such title and the corresponding abbreviations “R
.
D
.
” or
294
“R
.
D
.
N
.
”
an individual registered with the commission.
295
(27)
“Telehealth” means the use of electronic information
296
and telecommunications technologies to provide services under
297
this
part
between a practitioner in one location and an
298
individual in another location to support clinical health care,
299
public health, patient health-related education, and health
300
administration.
301
(28)
“Therapeutic diet” means a diet intervention ordered
302
by a physician or other authorized provider, including a
303
licensed dietitian or, for oral diets only, a licensed
304
nutritionist.
The term includes provision of
food, fluids, or
305
nutrients by oral, enteral, or parenteral routes
,
or
the
306
provision of
mechanically altered food when medically indicated
,
307
for
the treatment of a disease or clinical condition to modify,
308
eliminate, decrease, or increase specific macro
nutrients
or
309
micronutrients.
310
(29)
“Unrestricted practice of medical nutrition therapy”
311
means the provision of medical nutrition therapy by an
312
individual who is responsible for his or her own practice or
313
treatment procedures
.
314 Section 3. Section 468.504, Florida Statutes, is amended to
315 read:
316 468.504 License required.—
Except as otherwise provided in
317
this part, a person may not do any of the following:
318
(1)
No person may
Engage
in or offer to provide medical
319
nutrition therapy unless the person is licensed under this part.
320
(2)
D
esignate or hold himself or herself out as a licensed
321
dietitian or use or assume the titles “licensed dietitian,”
322
“dietitian,” “dietitian nutritionist,” or any other title
323
indicating that the person is a licensed dietitian
,
or append to
324
or use in conjunction with that person’s name the letters
325
“L
.
D
.,
” unless the person is a licensed dietitian under s.
326
468.509(1).
327
(3)
U
se or assume the title “licensed nutritionist
,
” or
328
append to or use in conjunction with that person’s name the
329
letters “L
.
N
.,
” unless the person is a licensed nutritionist
330
under s. 468.509(2) or a licensed nutrition counselor under s.
331
468.51.
332
(4)
D
esignate or hold himself or herself out as a
333
nutritionist or use or assume the title “nutritionist,” unless
334
the person is licensed under
for remuneration in dietetics and
335
nutrition practice or nutrition counseling or hold himself or
336
herself out as a practitioner of dietetics and nutrition
337
practice or nutrition counseling unless the person is licensed
338
in accordance with the provisions of
this part.
339 Section 4. Section 468.505, Florida Statutes, is amended to
340 read:
341 468.505 Exemptions; exceptions.—
342 (1)
Nothing in
This part may
not
be construed as
343 prohibiting or restricting the practice, services, or activities
344 of:
345 (a) A person licensed in this state under chapter 457,
346 chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter 462,
347 chapter 463, part I of chapter 464, chapter 465, chapter 466,
348 chapter 480, chapter 490, or chapter 491, when engaging in the
349 profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed, or of
350 any person employed by and under the supervision of the licensee
351 when rendering services within the scope of the profession or
352 occupation of the licensee.
353 (b) A
dietitian or nutritionist serving in the armed forces
354
or the United States Public Health Service or employed by the
355
Veterans Administration
and who is
engaging in the practice of
356
medical nutrition therapy or using government
-
issued titles,
357
provided such practice or title use is related to such service
358
or employment
person employed as a dietitian by the government
359
of the United States, if the person engages in dietetics solely
360
under direction or control of the organization by which the
361
person is employed
.
362 (c)
A person employed as a cooperative extension home
363
economist.
364
(d)
A person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree
365 in dietetics and nutrition from a program or school accredited
366 pursuant to
s. 468.509
s. 468.509(3)
, if the activities and
367 services constitute a part of a supervised course of study
, the
368
person is under the direction of a qualified supervisor as
369
specified
in
s. 468.516
,
and
if
the person is designated by a
370 title that clearly indicates the person’s status as a student or
371 trainee.
372
(d)
(e)
A person fulfilling
a
the
supervised experience
373 component
under
of
s. 468.509, if the activities and services
374 constitute a part of the experience necessary to meet the
375 requirements of s. 468.509
, the person practices under this
376
paragraph only while supervised by a qualified supervisor
as
377
specified in s. 468.516
,
and the person is designated by a title
378
that clearly indicates the person’s status as a student or
379
trainee
.
380
(e)
(f)
Any dietitian or nutritionist from another state
381 practicing
medical nutrition therapy
dietetics or nutrition
382 incidental to a course of study when taking or giving a
383 postgraduate course or other course of study in this state,
384 provided such dietitian or nutritionist is licensed in another
385 jurisdiction or is a registered dietitian or holds an
386 appointment on the faculty of a school accredited pursuant to
s.
387
468.509
s. 468.509(3)
.
388
(f)
(g)
A person who markets or distributes food, food
389 materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages in
390 the explanation of the use and benefits of those products or the
391 preparation of those products, if that person does not engage
in
392
the practice of medical nutrition therapy and the person does
393
not represent himself or herself using titles
or abbreviations
394
as
pro
hibit
ed under s. 468.504
for a fee in dietetics and
395
nutrition practice or nutrition counseling
.
396
(g)
(h)
A person who markets or distributes food, food
397 materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages in
398 the explanation of the use of those products or the preparation
399 of those products, as an employee of an establishment permitted
400 pursuant to chapter 465
, if that person does not engage in the
401
practice of medical nutrition therapy and the person does not
402
represent himself or herself using titles
or abbreviations as
403
pro
hibit
ed
under s. 468.504
.
404
(h)
(i)
A person
who is employed by th
e
state, a county, a
405
municipal agency, or any other political subdivision, or a
406
person who contracts with any of the foregoing, for the purposes
407
of providing nutrition care services for the Women, Infants, and
408
Children program,
and who uses the title
of “nutritionist”
in
409
the course
of his or her official duties
An educator who is in
410
the employ of a nonprofit organization approved by the council;
411
a federal, state, county, or municipal agency, or other
412
political subdivision; an elementary or secondary school; or an
413
accredited institution of higher education the definition of
414
which, as provided in s. 468.509(3), applies to other sections
415
of this part, insofar as the activities and services of the
416
educator are part of such employment
.
417
(i)
(j)
Persons who do not represent themselves using titles
418
or abbreviations as
pro
hibit
ed
under s. 468.504
when
providing
419
medical weight control for obesity as part of any of the
420
following:
421
1
.
A
n instructional program that has been approved in
422
writing by at least one of the following:
423
a.
A
licensed nutritionist or licensed dietitian; or
424
b
.
A
health care practitioner licensed or certified in this
425
state whose authorized scope of practice includes medical
426
nutrition therapy.
427
2
.
A
plan of care that is overseen by a health
care
428
practitioner
licensed in this state whose scope of practice
429
otherwise authorizes the health
care practitioner
to provide and
430
delegate medical nutrition therapy
services
,
as
long as the
431
medical weight control services are not discretionary and do not
432
require the exercise of professional judgment
Any person who
433
provides weight control services or related weight control
434
products, provided the program has been reviewed by,
435
consultation is available from, and no program change can be
436
initiated without prior approval by a licensed
437
dietitian/nutritionist, a dietitian or nutritionist licensed in
438
another state that has licensure requirements considered by the
439
council to be at least as stringent as the requirements for
440
licensure under this part, or a registered dietitian
.
441
(j)
(k)
An out-of-state dietitian or nutritionist who
442
provides medical nutrition therapy services
through
telehealth
443
to a patient located in this state
,
if the out-of-state
444
practitioner
i
s a dietitian or nutritionist licensed or
445
certified in good standing in any state or territory and
446
provides medical nutrition therapy services
through
telehealth
:
447
1
.
I
n consultation with a medical nutrition therapy
448
practitioner licensed in this
s
tate who has a practitioner
449
patient relationship with the patient;
450
2
.
F
or a patient
with
whom the practitioner has a current
451
practitioner-patient relationship, and the patient is
452
temporarily present in this
s
tate; or
453
3
.
P
ursuant to a current practitioner-patient relationship
,
454
and such care is limited to temporary or short-term follow-up
455
medical nutrition therapy services to ensure continuity of care.
456
457
By engaging in telehealth with a patient located in this
s
tate,
458
a dietitian or nutritionist
otherwise
exempted from licensure
459
under
this paragraph
consents to
application of
the
laws and
460
rules of this state governing
dietitians and nutritionists, the
461
jurisdiction of
this state
, and the jurisdiction of the
462
Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council
A person employed by a
463
hospital licensed under chapter 395, by a nursing home licensed
464
under part II of chapter 400, by an assisted living facility
465
licensed under chapter 429, or by a continuing care facility
466
certified under chapter 651, if the person is employed in
467
compliance with the laws and rules adopted thereunder regarding
468
the operation of its dietetic department
.
469
(k)
(l)
A person employed by a nursing facility exempt from
470 licensing under s. 395.002(12), or a person exempt from
471 licensing under s. 464.022.
472
(l)
(m)
A person who does not represent himself or herself
473
using titles
or abbreviations as
pro
hibit
ed
under s. 468.504,
474
including a dietetic technician who assists with the provision
475
of medical nutrition therapy
,
if the person performs only
476
support activities that are not discretionary and that do not
477
require the exercise of professional judgment for their
478
performance and the person is directly supervised by a licensed
479
dietitian, licensed nutritionist, or a health care practitioner
480
licensed in this state acting within the scope of such
481
practitioner’s license
A person employed as a dietetic
482
technician
.
483
(m)
(n)
A person who provides individualized nutrition
484
recommendations for the wellness and primary prevention of
485
chronic disease, health coaching, holistic and wellness
486
education, guidance, motivation, behavior change management,
487
services for nonmedical weight control, or other nutrition care
488
services
,
if
all
of
the following
conditions
apply:
489
1.
T
he services do not constitute medical nutrition
490
therapy
.
491
2.
T
he person does not represent himself or herself using
492
titles
or abbreviations as
pro
hibit
ed
under s.
468.504
.
493
3.
T
he person does not hold himself or herself out as
494
licensed or qualified to engage in the practice of medical
495
nutrition therapy
Any person who provides information, wellness
496
recommendations, or advice concerning nutrition, or who markets
497
food, food materials, or dietary supplements for remuneration,
498
if such person does not provide such services to a person under
499
the direct care and supervision of a medical doctor for a
500
disease or medical condition requiring nutrition intervention,
501
not including obesity or weight loss, and does not represent
502
himself or herself as a dietitian, licensed dietitian,
503
registered dietitian, nutritionist, licensed nutritionist,
504
nutrition counselor, or licensed nutrition counselor, or use any
505
word, letter, symbol, or insignia indicating or implying that he
506
or she is a dietitian, nutritionist, or nutrition counselor
.
507 (2)
Nothing in
This part may
not
be construed to prohibit
508 or limit any person from the free dissemination of information,
509 or from conducting a class or seminar or giving a speech,
510 related to nutrition.
511 (3)
The provisions of
This part
has
have
no application to
512 the practice of the religious tenets of any church in this
513 state.
514 (4)
T
his part may
not
be construed to prohibit an
515
individual from identifying
himself or herself
by an earned,
516
federally trademarked nutrition credential. However, such
517
identification
does not authorize the individual to engage in
518
the practice of medical nutrition therapy or identify using the
519
general titles of “dietitian,” “dietitian nutritionist,” or
520
“nutritionist” unless
the
individual is also licensed under this
521
part.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, an
522
individual registered by the commission has the right to use the
523
title “Registered Dietitian” or “Registered
524
Dietitian/Nutritionist,” and the designation “R.D.” or “R.D.N.”
525
An individual certified by the Certification Board for Nutrition
526
Specialists has the right to use the title “Certified Nutrition
527
Specialist” and the designation “CNS,” and an individual
528
certified by the American Clinical Board of Nutrition has the
529
right to use the title “Diplomate of the American Clinical Board
530
of Nutrition” and use the designation “DACBN.”
531 Section 5. Section 468.506, Florida Statutes, is amended to
532 read:
533 468.506 Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council.—There is
534 created the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council under the
535 supervision of the board. The council shall consist of
three
536
dietitians and one nutritionist
four persons
licensed under this
537 part and one consumer who is 60 years of age or older.
Council
538
members shall be appointed by the board. Licensed members shall
539
be appointed based on the proportion of licensees within each of
540
the respective disciplines.
Members shall be appointed for 4
541 year staggered terms. In order to be eligible for appointment,
542 each licensed member must have been a licensee under this part
543 for at least 3 years prior to his or her appointment. No council
544 member shall serve more than two successive terms. The board may
545 delegate such powers and duties to the council as it may deem
546 proper to carry out the operations and procedures necessary to
547 effectuate the provisions of this part. However, the powers and
548 duties delegated to the council by the board must encompass
the
549
practice of
both dietetics and nutrition
practice and nutrition
550
counseling
. Any time there is a vacancy on the council, any
551 professional association composed of persons licensed under this
552 part may recommend licensees to fill the vacancy to the board in
553 a number at least twice the number of vacancies to be filled,
554 and the board may appoint from the submitted list, in its
555 discretion, any of those persons so recommended. Any
556 professional association composed of persons licensed under this
557 part may file an appeal regarding a council appointment with the
558 State Surgeon General, whose decision shall be final. The board
559 shall fix council members’ compensation and pay their expenses
560 in the same manner as provided in s. 456.011.
561 Section 6. Section 468.509, Florida Statutes, is amended to
562 read:
563 468.509
Dietitian and nutritionist
Dietitian/nutritionist
;
564 requirements for licensure.—
565 (1)
To be licensed as a dietitian, a person must
apply to
566
the department on forms furnished by the department
and
567
demonstrat
e to the board’s satisfaction that
the applicant is
568
capable and professionally competent to safely engage in the
569
practice of dietetics
and
nutrition
. The department shall issue
570
a license to each applicant who submits a completed application,
571
remits
the applicable fee
, submit
s
to background screening in
572
accordance with s. 456.0135, and
whom the board certifies as
573
meet
ing
all of the
following criteria:
574
(a)
The applicant
submitted
proof of completion of all the
575
following educational, supervised practice experience, and
576
examination requirements:
577
1.
Obtained
a master’s degree or doctoral degree
in
a
578
program of study accredited by
the
Accreditation Council for
579
Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
, or its successor
580
organization.
581
2.
Satisfactor
ily
complet
ed
a planned, documented,
582
preprofessional experience component in the practice of
583
dietetics and practice of nutrition approved by the examining
584
board and accredited by
the
Accreditation Council for Education
585
in Nutrition and Dietetics
, or its successor organization,
which
586
involve
d
at least 1
,
000 hours of supervised practice experience
587
under the supervision of a qualified supervisor
as specified in
588
s. 468.516
. An applicant
must have
complete
d
the preprofessional
589
experience under this su
bparagraph
within 5 years
after
590
completing
the program of study under subparagraph 1.
unless the
591
examining board, for extraordinary circumstances, grant
ed
an
592
extension
for additional
time.
593
3.
Passed
the registration examination for dietitians
594
administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or its
595
successor organization. If passage of the examination occurred
596
more than 5 years before
the
application,
the applicant must
597
demonstrate
completion of 75 hours of continuing education
598
meeting the continuing education criteria of the board
for
each
599
5-year period
that has lapsed since the passage of such
600
examination.
601
(b)
The applicant submits proof of holding a valid current
602
registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or
603
its successor organization,
which
gives the applicant the right
604
to use the term “registered dietitian,” “registered dietitian
605
nutritionist,” “R
.
D
.
,” or “R
.
D
.
N.”
606
(2)
To be licensed as a nutritionist, a person must
apply
607
to the department on forms furnished by the department
and
608
demonstrat
e to the board’s satisfaction that
the applicant is
609
capable and professionally competent to safely engage in the
610
practice of nutrition
. The department shall issue a license to
611
each applicant who submits a completed application,
remits
the
612
applicable fee
, submit
s
to background screening in accordance
613
with s. 456.0135, and
whom the board certifies as
meet
ing
all
of
614
the following educational, supervised practice experience, and
615
examination requirements:
616
(a)
Has obtained
a master’s or doctoral degree with a major
617
in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, community nutrition,
618
public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition,
619
nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical
620
nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional
621
medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative
622
health, or a comparabl
e
major, or a doctoral degree or validated
623
foreign equivalent, in a field of clinical health
care.
624
Regardless of the course of study, the applicant
must
have
625
completed coursework leading to competence in noncomplex medical
626
nutrition therapy, which includes, but
is
not limited to:
627
1.
Fifteen semester hours of courses on clinical or life
628
sciences, including at least three semester hours in human
629
anatomy and physiology or the equivalent; and
630
2.
Fifteen semester hours of courses on nutrition and
631
metabolism, including at least six semester hours in
632
biochemistry.
633
(b)
Has completed
a planned, documented, and continuous
634
preprofessional experience component demonstrating competence in
635
the practice of nutrition
, which is
approved by the examining
636
board
and involved
at least 1
,
000 hours of supervised practice
637
experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor
, with
638
at least 200 hours each in the practice areas of
nutrition
639
assessment
,
nutrition intervention
,
and nutrition monitoring and
640
evaluation
. An applicant must have c
omplete
d
the
preprofessional
641
experience component within 5 years
after
completing the
course
642
of study under paragraph (a)
unless the examining board, for
643
extraordinary circumstances, grant
ed
an extension
for additional
644
time.
To satisfy the requirements of this paragraph, the
645
preprofessional experience
component must be
determined by the
646
board to have prepared the applicant to provide nutrition care
647
services for various populations of diverse cultures
and
genders
648
and across the life cycle and to be able to competently
649
formulate actionable medical nutrition therapies and
650
interventions, education, counseling, and ongoing care for the
651
prevention, modulation, and management of a range of noncomplex
652
medical conditions
.
653
(c)1.
Has passed
the certified nutrition specialist
654
examination administered by the Board for Certification of
655
Nutrition Specialists, or its successor organization, or an
656
equivalent examination on all aspects of the practice of
657
nutrition
which
has been reviewed under a program that requires
658
a master’s or higher
level
degree, is accredited by the National
659
Commission for Certifying Agencies, and is approved by the
660
examining board. If passage of the examination occurred more
661
than 5 years before
the
application,
the applicant must
662
demonstrate
completion of 75 hours of continuing education
663
meeting the continuing education criteria of the board
for
each
664
5-year period
that has elapsed since the passage of such
665
examination; or
666
2.
H
olds a valid current certification with the Board for
667
Certification of Nutrition Specialists, or its successor
668
organization,
which
gives the applicant the right to use the
669
title “certified nutrition specialist.”
670
(3)
All persons licensed or who have applied for licensure
671
before
July 1, 2026,
remain licensed, eligible for reactivation
672
of licensure
, or eligible for licensure
, as applicable,
under
673
the requirements in place at the time of application, so long as
674
the applicant or licensee remains in good standing and maintains
675
an active or inactive
license, as applicable
.
676
(a)
Any person who is licensed
as a
dietitian
/
nutritionist
677
as of
July 1, 2026, must
be
issued a license to practice
as a
678
dietitian without meeting any additional requirements so long as
679
such person hold
s
the registered dietitian credential issued by
680
the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
681
(b)
Any person who is licensed
as a
dietitian
/
nutritionist
682
as of July 1, 2026,
and does not hold the registered dietitian
683
credential issued by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
684
must be issued a license to practice as a nutritionist without
685
meeting any additional requirements.
686
(c)
Any person who is licensed
as a
nutrition counselor
as
687
of July 1, 2026, must be issued a license to practice
as a
688
nutritionist without meeting any additional requirements
Any
689
person desiring to be licensed as a dietitian/nutritionist shall
690
apply to the department to take the licensure examination.
691
(2) Applicants for licensure must also submit to background
692
screening in accordance with s. 456.0135.
693
(3) The department shall examine any applicant who the
694
board certifies has completed the application form, submitted to
695
background screening, and remitted the application and
696
examination fees specified in s. 468.508 and who:
697
(a)1. Possesses a baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree
698
with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and
699
nutrition, dietetics, or food management, or an equivalent major
700
course of study, from a school or program accredited, at the
701
time of the applicant’s graduation, by the appropriate
702
accrediting agency recognized by the Commission on Recognition
703
of Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department
704
of Education; and
705
2. Has completed a preprofessional experience component of
706
not less than 900 hours or has education or experience
707
determined to be equivalent by the board; or
708
(b)1. Has an academic degree, from a foreign country, that
709
has been validated by an accrediting agency approved by the
710
United States Department of Education as equivalent to the
711
baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree conferred by a
712
regionally accredited college or university in the United
713
States;
714
2. Has completed a major course of study in human
715
nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food management;
716
and
717
3. Has completed a preprofessional experience component of
718
not less than 900 hours or has education or experience
719
determined to be equivalent by the board.
720
(4) The board shall waive the examination requirement for
721
an applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the board
722
that the applicant is:
723
(a) A registered dietitian or registered
724
dietitian/nutritionist who is registered with the commission and
725
complies with the qualifications under this section; or
726
(b) A certified nutrition specialist who is certified by
727
the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists or who is a
728
Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition and
729
complies with the qualifications under this section.
730
(5) The department shall license as a
731
dietitian/nutritionist any applicant who has remitted the
732
initial licensure fee and has passed the examination in
733
accordance with this section
.
734 Section 7. Section 468.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to
735 read:
736 468.51 Nutrition counselor; renewal of licensure.—Any
737 person previously certified as qualified by the board and
738 holding a license to practice as a nutrition counselor in this
739 state which was issued during the period from July 1, 1988, to
740 March 30, 1997, based upon documentation that the person was
741 employed as a practitioner of nutrition counseling previous to
742 and on April 1, 1988, shall be eligible to renew his or her
743 license
as a nutritionist
pursuant to s. 468.514.
744 Section 8. Section 468.511, Florida Statutes, is amended to
745 read:
746 468.511
Dietitian/nutritionist;
Temporary permit.—
747 (1)
The board may issue a temporary permit for an
748
individual to engage in the practice of dietetics and the
749
practice of nutrition under the supervision of a licensed
750
dietitian upon filing an application with appropriate fees and
751
submission of evidence of successful completion of the education
752
and preprofessional experience requirements for dietitian
753
licensure provided for in s. 468.509(1).
754
(2)
The board
may issue a temporary permit for an
755
individual to engage in the practice of nutrition under the
756
supervision of a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist
757
upon filing an application with appropriate fees and submission
758
of evidence of successful completion of the education and
759
supervised practice requirements for nutritionist licensure
760
provided for in s. 468.509(2)
A temporary permit to practice
761
dietetics and nutrition may be issued by the board on the filing
762
of an application, payment of a temporary permit fee, and the
763
submission of evidence of the successful completion of the
764
educational requirement under s. 468.509. The initial
765
application shall be signed by the supervising licensee.
766
(2) A person practicing under a temporary permit shall be
767
under the supervision and direction of a licensed
768
dietitian/nutritionist
.
769 (3) A temporary permit
expires
shall expire
1 year
after
770
from
the date of issuance.
771 (4)
The board may grant
one extension of a temporary permit
772
may be granted
for good cause shown.
773
(5) If the board determines that an applicant is qualified
774
to be licensed by endorsement under s. 468.513, the board may
775
issue the applicant a temporary permit to practice dietetics and
776
nutrition until the next board meeting at which license
777
applications are to be considered, but not for a longer period
778
of time.
779
(6) If the board determines that an applicant has not
780
passed an examination recognized by the board and is not
781
qualified to be licensed by endorsement, but has otherwise met
782
all the requirements of s. 468.509 and has made application for
783
the next scheduled examination, the board may issue the
784
applicant a temporary permit allowing him or her to practice
785
dietetics and nutrition under the supervision of a licensed
786
dietitian/nutritionist until notification of the results of the
787
examination
.
788 Section 9. Section 468.512, Florida Statutes, is amended to
789 read:
790 468.512 License to be displayed.—
791
(1)(a
)
A
licensed dietitian/nutritionist may use the words
792
“dietitian,” “licensed dietitian,” “nutritionist,” or “licensed
793
nutritionist,” in connection with the licensee’s name or place
794
of business, to denote licensure under this part.
795
(b) A licensed nutrition counselor may use the words
796
“nutrition counselor,” “licensed nutrition counselor,”
797
“nutritionist,” or “licensed nutritionist,” in connection with
798
the licensee’s name or place of business, to denote licensure
799
under this part.
800
(2)
Each person
to whom a license is
issued
a license
under
801 this part shall keep such license conspicuously displayed in his
802 or her office, place of business, or place of employment and,
803 whenever required, shall exhibit such license to any member or
804 authorized representative of the board.
805 Section 10. Section 468.513, Florida Statutes, is amended
806 to read:
807 468.513
Dietitian/nutritionist;
Licensure by endorsement.
808 The department shall issue a license to practice
as
a dietitian
809
or nutritionist
dietetics and nutrition
by endorsement to any
810 applicant who submits to background screening in accordance with
811 s. 456.0135 and meets the requirements for licensure by
812 endorsement under s. 456.0145, upon receipt of a completed
813 application and the fee specified in s. 468.508.
814 Section 11. Section 468.516, Florida Statutes, is amended
815 to read:
816 468.516
Qualified supervisors
Practice requirements
.—
817
(1)
To
be
a qualified supervisor for purposes of this
part
,
818
an individual
must
meet all the following requirements:
819
(a)
Only supervise a clinical activity or nutrition care
820
service
that
the
individual
is qualified and authorized to
821
perform.
822
(b)
Develop and carry out a program for advancing and
823
optimizing the quality of care provided by the student or
824
trainee being supervised. A qualified supervisor and a student
825
or trainee being supervised shall identify and document goals
826
for supervised practice experience, the assignment of clinical
827
tasks as appropriate to the supervisee’s evolving level of
828
competence, the supervisee’s relationship and access to the
829
qualified supervisor, and a process for evaluating the student’s
830
or trainee’s performance.
831
(c)
Oversee the activities of and approve and accept
832
responsibility for the nutrition care services rendered by the
833
student or trainee.
834
(d)
At a minimum, be physically on-site and present where
835
the supervisee is providing nutrition care services or be
836
immediately and continuously available to the supervisee by
837
means of two-way
,
real-time audiovisual technology that allows
838
for the direct, contemporaneous interaction by sight and sound
839
between the qualified supervisor and the supervisee. If the
840
qualified supervisor assigns a nutrition care service to a
841
supervisee
which
is to be provided in a setting where the
842
qualified supervisor is not routinely present, the qualified
843
supervisor
must
ensure that the means and methods of supervision
844
are adequate to ensure appropriate patient care, which may
845
include synchronous videoconferencing or another method of
846
communication and oversight
which
is appropriate to the care
847
setting and the education and experience of the supervisee.
848
(e)
Review on a regular basis the charts, records, and
849
clinical notes of
the supervisee
and maintain responsibility for
850
the supervisee’s clinical recordkeeping.
851
(f)
Be available to render assistance during the provision
852
of nutrition care services when requested by the patient
,
or
853
arrange
for another qualified practitioner lawfully able to
854
render nutrition care services to be available in the absence of
855
the qualified supervisor.
856
(g)
Limit the assignment of nutrition care services to
857
those services that are within the training and experience of
858
the supervisee and customary to the practice of the qualified
859
supervisor.
860
(2)
To supervise the provision of medical nutrition
861
therapy, a qualified
supervisor
, in addition to meeting the
862
requirements of subsection (1), must meet one of the following
863
requirements
:
864
(a)
Be
licensed as a dietitian
or
nutritionist or
other
865
health
care pr
actitioner
whose scope of practice includes
866
medical nutrition therapy in the state where such supervised
867
practice experience
takes place.
868
(b)
Meet the exemption requirements of s. 468.505
(1)
(b)
.
869
(c)
Meet s
uch other criteria as the board may establish by
870
rule
for instances when
a state where the supervised practice
871
takes place
does not provide for licensure or certification of
872
dietitians or nutritionists
.
873
(1)(a) A licensee under this part shall not implement a
874
dietary plan for a condition for which the patient is under the
875
active care of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter
876
459, without the oral or written dietary order of the referring
877
physician. In the event the licensee is unable to obtain
878
authorization or consultation after a good faith effort to
879
obtain it from the physician, the licensee may use professional
880
discretion in providing nutrition services until authorization
881
or consultation is obtained from the physician.
882
(b) The licensee shall refer a patient to a physician
883
licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 upon the recognition
884
of a condition within the scope of practice as authorized under
885
chapter 458 or chapter 459, unless the patient has been referred
886
by or is currently being treated by a physician licensed under
887
chapter 458 or chapter 459.
888
(2)(a) A licensee under this part shall not implement a
889
dietary plan for a chiropractic condition for which the patient
890
is under the active care of a chiropractic physician licensed
891
under chapter 460, without the oral or written dietary order of
892
the referring chiropractic physician. In the event the licensee
893
is unable to obtain authorization or consultation after a good
894
faith effort to obtain it from the chiropractic physician, the
895
licensee may use professional discretion in providing nutrition
896
services until authorization or consultation is obtained from
897
the chiropractic physician.
898
(b) The licensee shall refer a patient to a chiropractic
899
physician licensed under chapter 460 upon the recognition of a
900
condition within the scope of practice as authorized under
901
chapter 460, unless the patient has been referred or is
902
currently being treated by a chiropractic physician licensed
903
under chapter 460.
904
(3) This section does not preclude a licensed
905
dietitian/nutritionist from independently ordering a therapeutic
906
diet if otherwise authorized to order such a diet in this state.
907 Section 12. Section 468.517, Florida Statutes, is amended
908 to read:
909 468.517 Prohibitions; penalties.—
910 (1) A person may not knowingly:
911 (a) Engage in
the practice of medical nutrition therapy
912
dietetics and nutrition practice or nutrition counseling for
913
remuneration
unless the person is licensed under this part
or is
914
otherwise exempt under s. 468.505
;
915 (b) Use
titles as specified in s. 468.504
the name or title
916
“dietitian,” “licensed dietitian,” “nutritionist,” “licensed
917
nutritionist,” “nutrition counselor,” or “licensed nutrition
918
counselor,” or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or
919
insignia indicating or implying that he or she is a dietitian,
920
nutritionist, or nutrition counselor, or otherwise hold himself
921
or herself out as such,
unless the person
holds the applicable
922
is the holder of a valid
license issued under this part;
923 (c) Present as his or her own the license of another;
924 (d) Give false or forged evidence to the board or a member
925 thereof;
926 (e) Use or attempt to use a license that has been
927 suspended, revoked, or placed on inactive or delinquent status;
928 (f) Employ unlicensed persons to engage in
medical
929
nutrition therapy
dietetics and nutrition practice or nutrition
930
counseling
; or
931 (g) Conceal information relative to any violation of this
932 part.
933 (2) A person who violates any provision of this section
934 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
935 provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
936 Section 13. Section 468.518, Florida Statutes, is amended
937 to read:
938 468.518 Grounds for disciplinary action.—
939 (1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a
940 license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2):
941 (a) Violating any provision of this part, any board or
942 department rule adopted pursuant thereto, or any lawful order of
943 the board or department previously entered in a disciplinary
944 hearing held pursuant to this part, or failing to comply with a
945 lawfully issued subpoena of the department. The provisions of
946 this paragraph also apply to any order or subpoena previously
947 issued by the Department of Health during its period of
948 regulatory control over this part.
949 (b) Being unable to engage in
the practice of
dietetics
and
950
nutrition practice
or nutrition
counseling
with reasonable skill
951 and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol,
952 drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material or as
953 a result of any mental or physical condition.
954 1. A licensee whose license is suspended or revoked
955 pursuant to this paragraph shall, at reasonable intervals, be
956 given an opportunity to demonstrate that he or she can resume
957 the competent practice of dietetics
or nutrition, as applicable,
958
and nutrition or nutrition counseling
with reasonable skill and
959 safety to patients.
960 2. Neither the record of the proceeding nor the orders
961 entered by the board in any proceeding under this paragraph may
962 be used against a licensee in any other proceeding.
963 (c) Attempting to procure or procuring a license to
964 practice dietetics
and nutrition
or nutrition
counseling
by
965 fraud or material misrepresentation of material fact.
966 (d) Having a license to practice dietetics
and nutrition
or
967 nutrition
counseling
revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted
968 against, including the denial of licensure by the licensing
969 authority of another state, district, territory, or country.
970 (e) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea
971 of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in
972 any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of
973 dietetics
and nutrition
or nutrition
counseling
or the ability
974 to practice dietetics
and nutrition
or nutrition
counseling
.
975 (f) Making or filing a report or record that the licensee
976 knows to be false, willfully failing to file a report or record
977 required by state or federal law, willfully impeding or
978 obstructing such filing, or inducing another person to impede or
979 obstruct such filing. Such reports or records include only those
980 that are signed in the capacity of a licensed
dietitian,
981
nutritionist, or
dietitian/nutritionist or licensed
nutrition
982 counselor.
983 (g) Advertising goods or services in a manner that is
984 fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading in form or content.
985 (h) Committing an act of fraud or deceit, or of negligence,
986 incompetency, or misconduct in the practice of dietetics
,
and
987 nutrition
,
or nutrition counseling.
988 (i) Practicing with a revoked, suspended, inactive, or
989 delinquent license.
990 (j) Treating or undertaking to treat human ailments by
991 means other than by
the practice of
dietetics
,
and
nutrition
,
992
practice
or nutrition counseling.
993 (k) Failing to maintain acceptable standards of practice as
994 set forth by the board and the council in rules adopted pursuant
995 to this part.
996 (l) Engaging directly or indirectly in the dividing,
997 transferring, assigning, rebating, or refunding of fees received
998 for professional services, or profiting by means of a credit or
999 other valuable consideration, such as an unearned commission,
1000 discount, or gratuity, with any person referring a patient or
1001 with any relative or business associate of the referring person.
1002 Nothing in this part prohibits the members of any regularly and
1003 properly organized business entity that is composed of licensees
1004 under this part and recognized under the laws of this state from
1005 making any division of their total fees among themselves as they
1006 determine necessary.
1007 (m) Advertising, by or on behalf of a licensee under this
1008 part, any method of assessment or treatment which is
1009 experimental or without generally accepted scientific
1010 validation.
1011 (n) Violating any provision of this chapter or chapter 456,
1012 or any rules adopted pursuant thereto.
1013 (2) The board may enter an order denying licensure or
1014 imposing any of the penalties in s. 456.072(2) against any
1015 applicant for licensure or licensee who is found guilty of
1016 violating any provision of subsection (1) of this section or who
1017 is found guilty of violating any provision of s. 456.072(1).
1018 (3) The department shall reissue the license of a
1019 disciplined
dietitian, nutritionist,
dietitian/nutritionist
or
1020 nutrition counselor upon certification by the board that
he or
1021
she
the disciplined dietitian/nutritionist or nutrition
1022
counselor
has complied with all of the terms and conditions set
1023 forth in the final order.
1024 Section 14. Subsection (3) of section 381.00593, Florida
1025 Statutes, is amended to read:
1026 381.00593 Public school volunteer health care practitioner
1027 program.—
1028 (3) For purposes of this section, the term “health care
1029 practitioner” means a physician licensed under chapter 458; an
1030 osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459; a chiropractic
1031 physician licensed under chapter 460; a podiatric physician
1032 licensed under chapter 461; an optometrist licensed under
1033 chapter 463; an advanced practice registered nurse, registered
1034 nurse, or licensed practical nurse licensed under part I of
1035 chapter 464; a pharmacist licensed under chapter 465; a dentist
1036 or dental hygienist licensed under chapter 466; a midwife
1037 licensed under chapter 467; a speech-language pathologist or
1038 audiologist licensed under part I of chapter 468; a
dietitian or
1039
nutritionist
dietitian/nutritionist
licensed under part X of
1040 chapter 468; or a physical therapist licensed under chapter 486.
1041 Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 501.0573, Florida
1042 Statutes, is amended to read:
1043 501.0573 Weight-loss provider requirements.—Each weight
1044 loss provider shall:
1045 (4) Provide the name, address, and qualifications of the
1046 person who has reviewed and approved the weight-loss program
1047 according to
s. 468.505(1)(i)
s. 468.505(1)(j)
.
1048 Section 16. Subsection (1) of section 501.0575, Florida
1049 Statutes, is amended to read:
1050 501.0575 Weight-Loss Consumer Bill of Rights.—
1051 (1) The Weight-Loss Consumer Bill of Rights shall consist
1052 of the following provisions:
1053 (A) WARNING: RAPID WEIGHT LOSS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH
1054 PROBLEMS. RAPID WEIGHT LOSS IS WEIGHT LOSS OF MORE THAN 1 1/2
1055 POUNDS TO 2 POUNDS PER WEEK OR WEIGHT LOSS OF MORE THAN 1
1056 PERCENT OF BODY WEIGHT PER WEEK AFTER THE SECOND WEEK OF
1057 PARTICIPATION IN A WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM.
1058 (B) CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE STARTING ANY
1059 WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM.
1060 (C) ONLY PERMANENT LIFESTYLE CHANGES, SUCH AS MAKING
1061 HEALTHFUL FOOD CHOICES AND INCREASING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PROMOTE
1062 LONG-TERM WEIGHT LOSS.
1063 (D) QUALIFICATIONS OF THIS PROVIDER ARE AVAILABLE UPON
1064 REQUEST.
1065 (E) YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO:
1066 1. ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF THIS
1067 PROGRAM AND ITS NUTRITIONAL CONTENT, PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT, AND
1068 EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS.
1069 2. RECEIVE AN ITEMIZED STATEMENT OF THE ACTUAL OR ESTIMATED
1070 PRICE OF THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM, INCLUDING EXTRA PRODUCTS,
1071 SERVICES, SUPPLEMENTS, EXAMINATIONS, AND LABORATORY TESTS.
1072 3. KNOW THE ACTUAL OR ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE PROGRAM.
1073 4. KNOW THE NAME, ADDRESS, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE
1074 DIETITIAN OR NUTRITIONIST WHO HAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED THE
1075 WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM ACCORDING TO
s. 468.505(1)(i)
s.
1076
468.505(1)(j)
, FLORIDA STATUTES.
1077 Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.