Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dietetics Licensure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Subcommittee clears House Bill 185 to modernize Dietetics Practice Act, permit interstate compact membership
Summary
House Bill 185, intended to update Georgia’s Dietetics Practice Act and authorize joining an interstate licensure compact for dietitians, was advanced by the subcommittee after proponents described changes to definitions, scope and exemptions and argued the compact would expand workforce mobility.
A House regulatory subcommittee voted to advance House Bill 185, which updates language in the Georgia Dietetics Practice Act, narrows the statute’s scope to emphasize medical nutrition therapy, and would allow Georgia to join an interstate licensure compact for dietitians.
The bill’s sponsor told the committee the Dietetics Practice Act dates to 1994 and that the proposed changes modernize terminology, clarify where licensure is required and create pathways to licensure designed to expand access to medically necessary nutrition care. “Medical nutrition therapy … means the provision of any of the following nutrition care services for the treatment or management of a disease or medical condition: Nutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, or nutrition monitoring and evaluation,” the sponsor read during the hearing while distinguishing medical nutrition therapy from general nutrition advice.
Robin Stegall, a registered dietitian in private practice and chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said the organization spent three years revising statute language and working with national groups to produce the bill and to enable participation in a new interstate licensure compact. “The other benefit … is the creation of an interstate licensure compact for dietitians. And we would like to be able to have Georgia dietitians participate in that interstate licensure compact,” Stegall told the committee.
Proponents described the compact as not yet fully operational; witnesses said about four states were considering it and that being among the first seven states to join would give a state a seat on the compact’s governing body. A representative of the Georgia Academy, Jet Tony, said the organization committed to bring a revised bill after earlier problematic legislation and worked with national leaders and legislative staff to address concerns.
Supporters said the bill would increase access to licensed dietitians across Georgia, improve continuity of care for individuals who move between states and reduce licensing burdens for groups such as military spouses. The sponsor and witnesses said the measure also clarifies exclusions and exemptions so that only defined medical nutrition therapy — not general dietary advice — requires a license.
The subcommittee voted to advance the bill by voice vote; the transcript records a motion, a second and an affirmative voice vote but does not include a roll-call tally.
