BILL ANALYSIS
AB 769
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2003
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Lou Correa, Chair
AB 769 (Maddox) - As Introduced: February 19, 2003
SUBJECT : Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians.
SUMMARY : Authorizes persons to perform certain regulated
activities as part of their supervised practice program to
become a registered dietitian (RD) or dietetic technician,
registered (DTR). Specifically, this bill :
1)Specifies that a person may engage in RD activities, as
specified in existing law, if the person meets both of the
following requirements:
a) The person is engaged in RD activities as part of a
supervised practice program for RDs pursuant to the
satisfactory completion of a supervised practice program
consisting of a minimum of 900 practice hours designed to
prepare entry level practitioners through instruction and
assignments in clinical settings.
b) The person is enrolled in or has completed a course of
study to fulfill the educational requirements for a RD
pursuant to existing law concerning the satisfactory
completion of specified academic requirements.
2)Specifies that a person may engage in DTR activities, as
specified in existing law, if the person meets both of the
following requirements:
a) The person is engaged in DTR activities as part of a
supervised practice program for dietetic technicians
pursuant to the satisfactory completion of an accredited
dietetic technician program recognized by the State
Department of Health Services consisting of a minimum of
450 hours of supervised practice.
b) The person is enrolled in or has completed a course of
study to fulfill the educational requirements for DTRs
pursuant to existing law concerning the satisfactory
completion of specified academic requirements.
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3)Specifies that a person may engage in DR activities, as
specified in existing law, for six months from the date the
person completed the required supervised practice program, or
until the person receives notice that he or she has failed the
required examination specified in existing law, whichever
occurs first, if all of the following conditions apply:
a) A RD supervises the person.
b) The person has completed the supervised practice program
requirements, as specified by existing law.
c) The person has written verification, including the
program director's original signature, that the person has
completed the required supervised practice program.
d) The person has applied to take the required RD
examination, as specified in existing law, and is waiting
for an examination date.
4)Specifies that a person may engage in DTR activities, as
specified in existing law, for six months from the date the
person completed the required supervised practice program for
DTRs, or until the person receives notice that he or she has
failed the required examination specified in existing law,
whichever occurs first, if all of the following conditions
apply:
a) A DTR supervises the person.
b) The person has completed the supervised practice program
requirements, as specified by existing law.
c) The person has written verification, including the
program director's original signature, that the person has
completed the required supervised practice program.
d) The person has applied to take the required DTR
examination, as specified in existing law, and is waiting
for an examination date.
EXISTING LAW specifies that in order to use the title
"registered dietitian" or "dietetic technician," a person is
required to complete a minimum number of practice hours, as
specified, in a supervised practice program. Existing law also
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requires a person to satisfactorily complete specified academic
requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS :
According to the author, dietician and dietetic technician
students as well as recent graduates of dietetic programs who
have not yet passed the appropriate certification exam (the RD
or DTR examination given nationally by the Commission on
Dietetic Registration) are not mentioned in existing law.
However, existing law does contain a defined scope of practice
for RDs and DTRs that permits RDs and DTRs to perform their
designated occupation within the existing scope of practice.
Specified activities permit RDs and DTRs to provide medical
nutrition assessment and therapy to treat illnesses or diseases
when prescribed by physicians. DTRs work under the supervision
of a RD. Both RDs and DTRs may provide basic nutrition
information to healthy individuals. Without this bill, medical
nutrition treatments prescribed by RD or DTR students could be
considered practicing medicine without a license. The
provisions of this bill would authorize RD and DTR students in
accredited supervised practice programs to perform activities in
the RD and DTR scope of practice when the activities are part of
the supervised practice program and under the supervision of a
Registered Dietitian. The provisions of this bill also would
permit temporary RD or DTR practice until the exam is physically
taken (must be taken within six months) by those who have
completed both the academic and supervised practice requirements
and have applied for the exam, but are awaiting the examination
date. These individuals must be supervised by RDs. Also, the
person's temporary practice ability is terminated immediately if
the person fails to pass the exam.
The California Dietetic Association (CDA) states that existing
law requires RDs and DTRs to complete supervised practice
programs as part of their pre-professional education. However,
existing law does not mention that dietetics students may
perform the professional activities of RDs or DTRs as part of
the supervised practice program. The provisions of this bill
would correct this omission in existing law.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
AB 769
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Support
California Dietetic Association (sponsor)
Individuals
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Chris L. Gallardo / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301