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THE BILL ITSELF

SB 1154

Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act

VERSION S 1154 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

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.
41 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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) Instability of the patient’s health status.
77 (b) The presence of multiple or interacting comorbidities.
78 (c) A high risk of complications or rapid clinical
79 deterioration.
80 (d) The need for intensive monitoring.
81 (e) The need for advanced nutrition interventions,
82 including therapeutic diets administered through enteral or
83 parenteral routes.
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) General 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) Nutrition assessment.
144 (b) Nutrition diagnosis.
145 (c) Nutrition intervention.
146 (d) Nutrition 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) Assessing 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) Identifying nutrition problems and establishing
196 priorities, goals, and objectives that meet nutritional needs
197 and are consistent with available resources and constraints.
198 (c) Creating 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 their
202 effectiveness.
203 (d) Determining and providing appropriate nutrition
204 intervention in health and disease, including nutrition
205 counseling on food and prescription drug interactions.
206 (e) Developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care
207 systems.
208 (f) Evaluating, 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 (18) (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 acknowledges and
218 fosters 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 (22) “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 their
250 lifespans. 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 accordance with the commission’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. The 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, consistent 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 provides 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 macronutrients 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) Designate 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) Use 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) Designate 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 prohibited 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 prohibited under s. 468.504 .
404 (h) (i) A person who is employed by the 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 prohibited under s. 468.504 when providing
419 medical weight control for obesity as part of any of the
420 following:
421 1. An 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 is 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. In consultation with a medical nutrition therapy
448 practitioner licensed in this state who has a practitioner
449 patient relationship with the patient;
450 2. For a patient with whom the practitioner has a current
451 practitioner-patient relationship, and the patient is
452 temporarily present in this state; or
453 3. Pursuant 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.
457 By engaging in telehealth with a patient located in this state,
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 prohibited 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. The services do not constitute medical nutrition
490 therapy.
491 2. The person does not represent himself or herself using
492 titles or abbreviations as prohibited under s. 468.504.
493 3. The 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) This 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 demonstrate 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, submits to background screening in
572 accordance with s. 456.0135, and whom the board certifies as
573 meeting 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. Satisfactorily completed 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 involved 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 completed the preprofessional
589 experience under this subparagraph within 5 years after
590 completing the program of study under subparagraph 1. unless the
591 examining board, for extraordinary circumstances, granted 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 demonstrate 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, submits to background screening in accordance
613 with s. 456.0135, and whom the board certifies as meeting 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 comparable 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 completed 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, granted 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. Holds 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 holds 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 practitioner 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 such 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.