A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the regulation of medical nutrition therapy,
Page 1, Line 102and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill creates the state board of dietetics and nutrition (board) under the supervision and control of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. On and after September 1, 2026, an individual is prohibited from engaging in or offering to provide medical nutrition therapy unless the individual is licensed by the board. The board is authorized to license dietitians and nutritionists if they meet the requirements specified by the bill and the rules adopted by the board pursuant to the bill.
An individual who desires to practice as a dietitian must file with the board:
- An application for a license;
- Proof of completion of educational requirements and supervised practice experience; and
- Proof of compliance with examination requirements or proof of holding a valid current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
- An application for a license;
- Proof of completion of educational requirements and supervised practice experience; and
- Proof of compliance with examination requirements.
An individual who desires to practice as a nutritionist must file with the board:
On or after September 1, 2026, but before September 1, 2028, the board may waive the examination requirement and may grant a nutritionist license to an applicant who meets specified criteria.
The board may deny or refuse to renew a license, suspend or revoke a license, or impose probationary conditions on a license. The board may also issue warnings or reprimands where the licensee or applicant for licensure has engaged in specified grounds for discipline or unprofessional conduct.
The board may issue a provisional license to practice as a dietitian or a nutritionist upon the filing of an application with the appropriate fees, submission of evidence of successful completion of the educational and supervised practice requirements, and submission of evidence that the individual has applied to take the required licensing examination.
The bill exempts specified individuals from the licensing requirements established by the bill.
An individual who practices or offers or attempts to practice as a dietitian or nutritionist without being licensed pursuant to the bill and who is not exempted from licensure commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the bill.
The bill is scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2035. Before the repeal, the functions of the board in regulating dietitians and nutritionists are scheduled for review in accordance with the sunset law.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add article 223 to
Page 2, Line 3title 12 as follows:
ARTICLE 223
Page 3, Line 1Dietitians and Nutritionists
Page 3, Line 212-223-101. Short title.The short title of this article 223 is the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act".
Page 3, Line 312-223-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 3, Line 4(a) The practice of medical nutrition therapy is essential
Page 3, Line 5to protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of
Page 3, Line 6the people of Colorado. The absence of licensure and regulation
Page 3, Line 7for individuals engaged in this practice has resulted in
Page 3, Line 8significant risks, including the provision of care by unqualified
Page 3, Line 9practitioners, inequitable access to crucial nutrition services
Page 3, Line 10in underserved communities, and inefficient utilization of registered dietitians in health-care settings.
Page 3, Line 11(b) To mitigate these risks and ensure the delivery of safe,
Page 3, Line 12high-quality nutrition care, it is necessary to establish a
Page 3, Line 13licensure framework that formally recognizes and regulates
Page 3, Line 14the practice of medical nutrition therapy. This framework will
Page 3, Line 15protect consumers from harm, increase access to essential care,
Page 3, Line 16facilitate participation in the national dietitian licensure
Page 3, Line 17compact, and enable Colorado to align with national
Page 3, Line 18standards, thereby expanding the workforce of qualified
Page 3, Line 19practitioners and improving outcomes for patients across the state.
Page 3, Line 20(c) This licensure program is narrowly tailored to
Page 3, Line 21regulate only the practice of medical nutrition therapy while
Page 3, Line 22explicitly preserving the ability of other professionals and
Page 4, Line 1individuals to provide general nutrition guidance and wellness
Page 4, Line 2services. Through this action, the general assembly reaffirms
Page 4, Line 3its commitment to ensuring equitable and affordable health care as well as the safety and well-being of all Coloradans.
Page 4, Line 412-223-103. Applicability of common provisions.Articles 1,
Page 4, Line 520, and 30 of this title 12 apply, according to their terms, to this article 223.
Page 4, Line 612-223-104. Definitions.As used in this article 223, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 7(1) "Advisory committee" means the dietetics and nutrition advisory committee created in section 12-223-106.
Page 4, Line 8(2) "Degree" means a degree received from a college or
Page 4, Line 9university accredited by the appropriate United States
Page 4, Line 10regionally accredited body recognized by the Council for
Page 4, Line 11Higher Education Accreditation and the United States
Page 4, Line 12department of education at the time the degree was received or a validated international equivalent.
Page 4, Line 13(3) "Dietetics" means the integration and application of
Page 4, Line 14scientific principles derived from the study of food, nutrition,
Page 4, Line 15biochemistry, metabolism, nutrigenomics, physiology,
Page 4, Line 16pharmacology, food systems, management, and behavioral and
Page 4, Line 17social sciences to achieve and maintain optimal nutrition statuses of individuals and groups.
Page 4, Line 18(4) "Licensed dietitian" means an individual licensed under
Page 4, Line 19this article 223 as meeting the requirements of section
Page 4, Line 2012-223-107 (1) to practice dietetics and nutrition, including the
Page 4, Line 21provision of medical nutrition therapy.
Page 5, Line 1(5) "Licensed nutritionist" means an individual licensed
Page 5, Line 2under this article 223 as meeting the requirements of section
Page 5, Line 312-223-108 (1) or (4) to practice nutrition, including the provision of medical nutrition therapy.
Page 5, Line 4(6) "Medical nutrition therapy" means the provision of one
Page 5, Line 5or more of the following nutrition care services for the purpose of management or treatment of a disease or medical condition:
Page 5, Line 6(a) Nutrition assessment;
(b) Nutrition diagnosis;
Page 5, Line 7(c) Nutrition intervention; or
(d) Nutrition monitoring and evaluation.
Page 5, Line 8(7) "Medical weight control" means medical nutrition
Page 5, Line 9therapy provided for the purpose of reducing, maintaining, or gaining weight.
Page 5, Line 10(8) (a) "Nonmedical weight control" means nutrition care
Page 5, Line 11services for the purpose of reducing, maintaining, or gaining
Page 5, Line 12weight that do not constitute the treatment or management of a disease or medical condition.
Page 5, Line 13(b) "Nonmedical weight control" includes weight control
Page 5, Line 14services for healthy population groups to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
Page 5, Line 15(9) "Nutrition" means the integration and application of
Page 5, Line 16scientific principles derived from the study of nutrition science,
Page 5, Line 17cellular and systemic metabolism, biochemistry, physiology, and
Page 5, Line 18behavioral sciences for achieving and maintaining health throughout the lifespan of an individual.
Page 5, Line 19(10) (a) "Nutrition assessment" means the ongoing,
Page 6, Line 1dynamic, and systematic process of ordering, obtaining,
Page 6, Line 2verifying, and interpreting biochemical, anthropometric,
Page 6, Line 3physical, nutrigenomic, and dietary data to make decisions
Page 6, Line 4about the nature and cause of nutrition-related problems relative to patient and community needs.
Page 6, Line 5(b) "Nutrition assessment" involves not only initial data
Page 6, Line 6collection but also reassessment and analysis of patient or
Page 6, Line 7community needs and provides the foundation for nutrition diagnosis and nutritional recommendations and orders.
Page 6, Line 8(c) "Nutrition assessment" may require ordering
Page 6, Line 9laboratory tests to check and track nutritional statuses. The
Page 6, Line 10collection of nutrition-related data does not, by itself, constitute nutrition assessment.
Page 6, Line 11(11) "Nutrition care services" means all or a part of the following services provided within a systematic process:
Page 6, Line 12(a) Assessing and evaluating the nutritional needs of
Page 6, Line 13individuals and groups and determining resources and
Page 6, Line 14constraints in a practice setting, including the ordering of
Page 6, Line 15nutrition-related laboratory tests to check and track nutrition statuses;
Page 6, Line 16(b) Identifying nutrition problems and establishing
Page 6, Line 17priorities, goals, and objectives that meet nutritional needs and are consistent with available resources and constraints;
Page 6, Line 18(c) Creating individualized dietary plans and issuing and
Page 6, Line 19implementing orders to meet the nutritional needs of healthy
Page 6, Line 20individuals and individuals with disease states or medical
Page 6, Line 21conditions, including ordering therapeutic diets and monitoring the diets' effectiveness;
Page 7, Line 1(d) Determining and providing appropriate nutrition
Page 7, Line 2intervention in health and disease, including nutrition counseling on food and prescription drug interactions;
Page 7, Line 3(e) Developing, implementing, and managing nutrition care systems; or
Page 7, Line 4(f) Evaluating, making changes in, and maintaining appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition services.
Page 7, Line 5(12) "Nutrition counseling" means a supportive process,
Page 7, Line 6characterized by a collaborative counselor-patient
Page 7, Line 7relationship with individuals or groups, that establishes food
Page 7, Line 8and nutrition priorities, goals, and individualized action plans
Page 7, Line 9and general physical activity guidance, which acknowledges
Page 7, Line 10and fosters responsibility for self-care, promotes health and
Page 7, Line 11wellness, or treats or manages an existing disease or medical condition.
Page 7, Line 12(13) "Nutrition diagnosis" means identifying and labeling
Page 7, Line 13nutrition problems managed and treated by a licensed dietitian
Page 7, Line 14or a licensed nutritionist but does not include a medical diagnosis of the health status of an individual.
Page 7, Line 15(14) (a) "Nutrition intervention" means purposefully
Page 7, Line 16planned actions, including nutrition counseling, intended to
Page 7, Line 17positively change a nutrition-related behavior, risk factor,
Page 7, Line 18environmental condition, or aspect of the health status of an
Page 7, Line 19individual and the individual's family or caregivers, target groups, or the community at large.
Page 7, Line 20(b) "Nutrition intervention" includes approving, ordering,
Page 8, Line 1and monitoring therapeutic diets and counseling on food and prescription drug interactions.
Page 8, Line 2(15) "Nutrition monitoring and evaluation" means
Page 8, Line 3identifying patient outcomes relevant to a nutrition diagnosis,
Page 8, Line 4intervention plans, and goals and comparing those patient
Page 8, Line 5outcomes with previous statuses, intervention goals, or a
Page 8, Line 6reference standard to determine the progress made in achieving
Page 8, Line 7the desired outcomes of nutrition care and whether planned interventions should be continued or revised.
Page 8, Line 8(16) "Patient" means an individual recipient of nutrition care services.
Page 8, Line 9(17) "Practice of dietetics":
Page 8, Line 10(a) Includes the provision of nutrition care services,
Page 8, Line 11including medical nutrition therapy, in person or via telehealth,
Page 8, Line 12to prevent, manage, or treat chronic and acute diseases or
Page 8, Line 13medical conditions and promote wellness in inpatient and outpatient settings; and
Page 8, Line 14(b) Encompasses the development and ordering of
Page 8, Line 15therapeutic diets via oral, enteral, and parenteral routes and
Page 8, Line 16providing other advanced medical nutrition therapy and
Page 8, Line 17related support activities consistent with current competencies
Page 8, Line 18required of academic and supervised practice programs
Page 8, Line 19accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in
Page 8, Line 20Nutrition and Dietetics and in accordance with the "Scope and
Page 8, Line 21Standards of Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist" established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Page 8, Line 22(18) "Practice of nutrition":
Page 9, Line 1(a) Includes the provision of nutrition care services,
Page 9, Line 2including medical nutrition therapy, in person or via telehealth,
Page 9, Line 3to prevent, manage, or treat chronic diseases or medical conditions and promote wellness in outpatient settings; and
Page 9, Line 4(b) Encompasses, consistent with a level of competence:
(I) Ordering oral therapeutic diets;
Page 9, Line 5(II) Ordering medical laboratory tests related to nutritional therapeutic treatments; and
Page 9, Line 6(III) Recommending vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements.
Page 9, Line 7(19) "Qualified supervisor" means an individual providing
Page 9, Line 8supervision who assumes full professional responsibility for the
Page 9, Line 9work of the supervised individual by verifying, directing, and
Page 9, Line 10approving the provided nutrition care services, medical
Page 9, Line 11nutrition therapy, and other work being supervised and meets the requirements of section 12-223-112.
Page 9, Line 12(20) "Registered dietitian" means an individual who is
Page 9, Line 13credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or its
Page 9, Line 14successor organization, as a registered dietitian or a registered
Page 9, Line 15dietitian nutritionist and is authorized to use such title and the corresponding abbreviations "RD" or "RDN".
Page 9, Line 16(21) "Telehealth" has the meaning set forth in section 10-16-123 (4)(e).
Page 9, Line 17(22) "Unrestricted practice of medical nutrition therapy"
Page 9, Line 18means the provision of medical nutrition therapy by an
Page 9, Line 19individual who is responsible for the individual's own practice or
Page 9, Line 20treatment procedures.
Page 10, Line 112-223-105. Powers and duties of the director - rules. (1) In
Page 10, Line 2addition to the other powers and duties of the director as set
Page 10, Line 3forth in this article 223 and articles 20 and 30 of this title 12, the director shall:
Page 10, Line 4(a) License dietitians and nutritionists in a manner consistent with this article 223;
Page 10, Line 5(b) Create and maintain a register of all applicants for
Page 10, Line 6licensure, and a register of all licensed dietitians and licensed nutritionists;
Page 10, Line 7(c) Adopt rules pursuant to section 12-20-204 to provide for the enforcement of this article 223;
Page 10, Line 8(d) Adopt the licensure standards prescribed in this
Page 10, Line 9article 223 and rules relevant to licensure, including adopting updated standards of accrediting organizations;
Page 10, Line 10(e) Adopt by rule a code of ethics and standards of practice and professional responsibilities;
Page 10, Line 11(f) Establish and collect the fees for licensure and
Page 10, Line 12renewal and reinstatement of licensure in the manner authorized by section 12-20-105;
Page 10, Line 13(g) Establish and collect fees and make expenditures as required by this article 223;
Page 10, Line 14(h) Administer continuing education requirements for the renewal of a license, as set forth in section 12-223-114;
Page 10, Line 15(i) Receive and process complaints and investigate alleged violations of this article 223;
Page 10, Line 16(j) Conduct administrative hearings in accordance with
Page 10, Line 17section 12-20-403 in all matters relating to the exercise and performance of the powers and duties vested in the director;
Page 11, Line 1(k) Seek an injunction in accordance with section
Page 11, Line 212-20-406 to enjoin an act or practice that constitutes a violation of this article 223;
Page 11, Line 3(l) Provide for examination or waiver of examination for
Page 11, Line 4applicants pursuant to section 12-223-107 (1)(a)(III) or 12-223-108 (1)(c)(I) or (4); and
Page 11, Line 5(m) Impose penalties in accordance with this article 223 and with sections 12-20-404 and 12-20-407.
Page 11, Line 612-223-106. Dietetics and nutrition advisory committee -
Page 11, Line 7members - repeal. (1) The dietetics and nutrition advisory
Page 11, Line 8committee is created in the division as the entity responsible for
Page 11, Line 9advising the director in the regulation of medical nutrition therapy and the implementation of this article 223.
Page 11, Line 10(2) (a) The advisory committee consists of seven members
Page 11, Line 11who are residents of this state and are appointed by the director as follows:
Page 11, Line 12(I) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, three members must be licensed dietitians;
Page 11, Line 13(II) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, two members must be licensed nutritionists;
Page 11, Line 14(III) One member must be a physician licensed to practice medicine pursuant to article 240 of this title 12; and
Page 11, Line 15(IV) One member must not be licensed under this article
Page 11, Line 16223 or article 240 of this title 12 and shall represent the public at large.
Page 11, Line 17(b) (I) Licensed dietitians and licensed nutritionists who
Page 12, Line 1are members of the advisory committee must have been actively
Page 12, Line 2practicing in the field of dietetics or nutrition for not less than
Page 12, Line 3five years. The dietitians and nutritionists initially appointed to
Page 12, Line 4the advisory committee must be eligible for licensure pursuant
Page 12, Line 5to this article 223 and must maintain licensure, once available,
Page 12, Line 6while serving on the advisory committee; thereafter, licensed
Page 12, Line 7dietitians and licensed nutritionists appointed to the advisory
Page 12, Line 8committee must be licensed pursuant to this article 223 and must
Page 12, Line 9maintain active licensure while serving on the advisory committee.
Page 12, Line 10(II) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section:
Page 12, Line 11(A) At least one member of the advisory committee must
Page 12, Line 12be a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist who is an
Page 12, Line 13educator specializing in the field of dietetics or nutrition on the
Page 12, Line 14faculty of a college or university accredited at the time of
Page 12, Line 15graduation by a United States institutional accrediting body
Page 12, Line 16for higher education recognized by the United States department of education;
Page 12, Line 17(B) At least one member of the advisory committee must
Page 12, Line 18be a licensed dietitian whose primary practice is clinical dietetics in a hospital or long-term care institution; and
Page 12, Line 19(C) At least one member of the advisory committee must
Page 12, Line 20be a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist whose primary
Page 12, Line 21practice is medical nutrition therapy in private practice or an outpatient setting.
Page 12, Line 22(c) The member of the advisory committee appointed
Page 13, Line 1pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(IV) of this section must be a citizen
Page 13, Line 2or permanent resident of the United States and a resident of Colorado and must not be any of the following:
Page 13, Line 3(I) A dietitian or a nutritionist;
Page 13, Line 4(II) An agent or employee of an individual engaged in the profession of dietetics or nutrition;
Page 13, Line 5(III) A licensed health-care professional or an individual
Page 13, Line 6enrolled in a program to become a licensed health-care professional;
Page 13, Line 7(IV) An agent or employee of a health-care institution, a health-care insurer, or a health-care professional school;
Page 13, Line 8(V) A member of an allied health profession or an
Page 13, Line 9individual enrolled in a program to become a member of an allied health profession; or
Page 13, Line 10(VI) An unregulated provider of nutrition care services.
Page 13, Line 11(d) (I) The director shall make the initial appointments to
Page 13, Line 12the advisory committee on or before six months after the effective date of this article 223.
Page 13, Line 13(II) The initial term of appointment of two licensed
Page 13, Line 14dietitians appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(I) of this
Page 13, Line 15section, one licensed nutritionist appointed pursuant to
Page 13, Line 16subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, and the member representing
Page 13, Line 17the public at large appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(IV) of
Page 13, Line 18this section is two years, with the initial term of appointment for
Page 13, Line 19the remaining members of the advisory committee being three years.
Page 13, Line 20(III) This subsection (2)(d) is repealed, effective December 1, 2030.
Page 14, Line 1(e) (I) Each member of the advisory committee serves at
Page 14, Line 2the pleasure of the director. Except as provided in subsection
Page 14, Line 3(2)(d) of this section, the term of appointment is three years. A member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Page 14, Line 4(II) Each member of the advisory committee does not
Page 14, Line 5receive compensation for their services but is entitled to
Page 14, Line 6reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses they incur in performing their duties.
Page 14, Line 7(III) The director shall call the first meeting of the
Page 14, Line 8advisory committee no later than three months after the
Page 14, Line 9director makes all of the initial appointments to the advisory committee.
Page 14, Line 10(IV) The advisory committee shall elect a chair from
Page 14, Line 11among its members to serve for a term not to exceed one year. A chair shall not serve more than three consecutive terms.
Page 14, Line 12(V) The advisory committee shall meet at least once
Page 14, Line 13every calendar year, or more frequently as determined necessary by the director.
Page 14, Line 14(3) The chair is an official representative of the advisory
Page 14, Line 15committee and is responsible for the daily activities of the advisory committee and its staff.
Page 14, Line 1612-223-107. Licensure of dietitians - qualifications -
Page 14, Line 17application. (1) An applicant for a license as a dietitian shall
Page 14, Line 18submit a completed application as required by the director
Page 14, Line 19demonstrating the applicant is capable and professionally
Page 14, Line 20competent to safely engage in the practices of dietetics and
Page 15, Line 1nutrition, submit the fees as required by the director, and submit proof of one of the following:
Page 15, Line 2(a) Proof of completion of all of the following
Page 15, Line 3educational requirements and supervised practice experience and examination requirements:
Page 15, Line 4(I) Proof of one of the following educational requirements:
Page 15, Line 5(A) A master's degree or doctoral degree with a program
Page 15, Line 6of study that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Page 15, Line 7Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, or its successor organization; or
Page 15, Line 8(B) An international academic degree that the director
Page 15, Line 9determines is equivalent to a degree described in subsection
Page 15, Line 10(1)(a)(I)(A) of this section with a program of study that is
Page 15, Line 11accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, or its successor organization;
Page 15, Line 12(II) Satisfactory completion of a planned, documented,
Page 15, Line 13and supervised experience in dietetics and nutrition practice
Page 15, Line 14approved by the director and accredited by the Accreditation
Page 15, Line 15Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, or its
Page 15, Line 16successor organization, that involves at least one thousand
Page 15, Line 17hours of supervised practice experience under the supervision of
Page 15, Line 18a qualified supervisor. An applicant shall complete a supervised
Page 15, Line 19practice experience within five years after completing the
Page 15, Line 20educational requirements described in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this
Page 15, Line 21section unless the director, for extraordinary circumstances,
Page 15, Line 22grants an extension for a limited time.
Page 16, Line 1(III) Successful completion of the registration
Page 16, Line 2examination for dietitians administered by the Commission on
Page 16, Line 3Dietetic Registration, or its successor organization. If passage
Page 16, Line 4of the examination occurred more than five years before the
Page 16, Line 5application for licensure, the applicant shall demonstrate
Page 16, Line 6completion of seventy-five hours of continuing education
Page 16, Line 7meeting the continuing education criteria, as adopted by rule, per each five-year period post-examination.
Page 16, Line 8(b) Proof of a valid registration with the Commission on
Page 16, Line 9Dietetic Registration, or its successor organization, that gives
Page 16, Line 10the applicant the right to use the term "registered dietitian", "registered dietitian nutritionist", "RD", or "RDN".
Page 16, Line 11(2) After an applicant has fulfilled the requirements of
Page 16, Line 12subsection (1) of this section, the director shall issue a license
Page 16, Line 13to the applicant; except that the director may deny a license pursuant to sections 12-20-404 (1)(d)(I) and 12-223-109.
Page 16, Line 1412-223-108. Licensure of nutritionists - qualifications -
Page 16, Line 15application - transitional license - rules - repeal. (1) An applicant
Page 16, Line 16for a license as a nutritionist shall submit a completed
Page 16, Line 17application as required by the director demonstrating the
Page 16, Line 18applicant is capable and professionally competent to safely
Page 16, Line 19engage in the practice of nutrition, submit the fees as required
Page 16, Line 20by the director, and submit proof of completion of all the
Page 16, Line 21following educational requirements, supervised practice experiences, and examination requirements:
Page 16, Line 22(a) Proof of completion of a doctoral degree or validated
Page 16, Line 23international equivalent in a field of clinical health care from
Page 17, Line 1a college or university accredited at the time of graduation by
Page 17, Line 2a United States institutional accrediting body for higher
Page 17, Line 3education recognized by the United States department of
Page 17, Line 4education or a master's or doctoral degree or validated
Page 17, Line 5international equivalent from a college or university
Page 17, Line 6accredited at the time of graduation by a United States
Page 17, Line 7institutional accrediting body for higher education recognized by the United States department of education with a major in:
Page 17, Line 8(I) Human nutrition;
(II) Foods and nutrition;
Page 17, Line 9(III) Community nutrition;
(IV) Public health nutrition;
Page 17, Line 10(V) Nutrition education;
(VI) Nutrition;
Page 17, Line 11(VII) Nutrition science;
(VIII) Clinical nutrition;
Page 17, Line 12(IX) Applied clinical nutrition;
(X) Nutrition counseling;
Page 17, Line 13(XI) Nutrition and functional medicine;
(XII) Nutritional biochemistry;
Page 17, Line 14(XIII) Nutrition and integrative health; or
(XIV) A comparably titled major;
Page 17, Line 15(b) Satisfactory completion of a planned, documented,
Page 17, Line 16and continuous supervised practice experience that
Page 17, Line 17demonstrates competence in providing nutrition care services
Page 17, Line 18and medical nutrition therapy that is approved by the director
Page 17, Line 19and meets the following requirements regarding supervised practice experience:
Page 18, Line 1(I) Completion within five years after completing the
Page 18, Line 2requirements described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, unless
Page 18, Line 3the director, for extraordinary circumstances, grants an extension for a limited time;
Page 18, Line 4(II) Completion of at least one thousand hours
Page 18, Line 5cumulatively in the following practice areas, with a minimum of two hundred hours completed in each practice area:
Page 18, Line 6(A) Nutrition assessment;
(B) Nutrition intervention; and
Page 18, Line 7(C) Nutrition monitoring and evaluation;
Page 18, Line 8(III) The director determines that the supervised practice
Page 18, Line 9experience has prepared the applicant to provide nutrition care
Page 18, Line 10services for various populations of diverse cultures, of genders,
Page 18, Line 11and across the life cycle and to be able to competently
Page 18, Line 12formulate actionable medical nutrition therapies and
Page 18, Line 13interventions, education, counseling, and ongoing care for the
Page 18, Line 14prevention, modulation, and management of a range of chronic medical conditions; and
Page 18, Line 15(IV) Supervision by a qualified supervisor, as determined pursuant to section 12-223-112; and
Page 18, Line 16(c) Completion of examination requirements by demonstrating either of the following:
Page 18, Line 17(I) Passage of the certified nutrition specialist
Page 18, Line 18examination administered by the Board for Certification of
Page 18, Line 19Nutrition Specialists, or its successor organization, or an
Page 18, Line 20equivalent examination on all aspects of the practice of
Page 19, Line 1nutrition that has been reviewed under a program that requires
Page 19, Line 2a master's degree or higher, is accredited by the National
Page 19, Line 3Commission for Certifying Agencies or its successor
Page 19, Line 4organization, and is approved by the director. If passage of the
Page 19, Line 5examination occurred more than five years before the
Page 19, Line 6application for licensure, the applicant shall demonstrate
Page 19, Line 7completion of seventy-five hours of continuing education
Page 19, Line 8meeting the continuing education criteria, as adopted by rule, per each five-year period post-examination.
Page 19, Line 9(II) The applicant holds a valid certification with the
Page 19, Line 10Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists, or its
Page 19, Line 11successor organization, that gives the applicant the right to use the title "certified nutrition specialist".
Page 19, Line 12(2) To comply with the educational requirements set
Page 19, Line 13forth in subsection (1)(a) of this section and regardless of the
Page 19, Line 14course of study, the applicant shall have completed coursework
Page 19, Line 15leading to competence in medical nutrition therapy, including both of the following:
Page 19, Line 16(a) Fifteen semester hours of clinical or life sciences, such
Page 19, Line 17as courses in chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, molecular
Page 19, Line 18biology, biotechnology, botany, genetics, genomics,
Page 19, Line 19neuroscience, experimental science, immunotherapy, pathology,
Page 19, Line 20pharmacology, toxicology, research methods, applied statistics,
Page 19, Line 21biostatistics, epidemiology, energy production, molecular
Page 19, Line 22pathways, hormone and transmitter regulations and imbalance,
Page 19, Line 23and pathophysiologic basis of disease. Three semester hours
Page 19, Line 24must be in human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent.
Page 20, Line 1(b) Fifteen semester hours of nutrition and metabolism,
Page 20, Line 2such as courses in nutrition assessment, developmental
Page 20, Line 3nutrition, nutritional aspects of disease, human nutrition,
Page 20, Line 4macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and minerals,
Page 20, Line 5functional medicine nutrition, molecular metabolism, clinical
Page 20, Line 6nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, nutritional biochemistry,
Page 20, Line 7nutrition and digestive health, and public health nutrition. At least six semester hours must be in biochemistry.
Page 20, Line 8(3) After an applicant has fulfilled the requirements of
Page 20, Line 9subsection (1) of this section, the director shall issue a license
Page 20, Line 10to the applicant; except that the director may deny a license pursuant to sections 12-20-404 (1)(d)(I) and 12-223-109.
Page 20, Line 11(4) (a) The director may waive the examination
Page 20, Line 12requirement of subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section and may grant
Page 20, Line 13a nutritionist license to an applicant who applies to the director and demonstrates compliance with the following:
Page 20, Line 14(I) Receipt of a baccalaureate or higher academic degree
Page 20, Line 15from a United States regionally accredited institution of
Page 20, Line 16higher education recognized by the Council for Higher
Page 20, Line 17Education Accreditation, or successor organization, with at least thirty credit hours or a major course of study in:
Page 20, Line 18(A) Human nutrition;
(B) Foods and nutrition;
Page 20, Line 19(C) Food systems management;
(D) Nutritional science;
Page 20, Line 20(E) Nutritional education;
Page 20, Line 21(F) Community nutrition;
(G) Public health nutrition;
Page 21, Line 1(H) Nutrition education;
(I) Nutrition;
Page 21, Line 2(J) Nutrition science;
(K) Clinical nutrition;
Page 21, Line 3(L) Applied clinical nutrition;
(M) Nutrition counseling;
Page 21, Line 4(N) Nutrition and functional medicine;
(O) Nutritional biochemistry;
Page 21, Line 5(P) Nutrition and integrative health; or
Page 21, Line 6(Q) An equivalent course of study leading to competence in medical nutrition therapy;
Page 21, Line 7(II) Employment, including self-employment, at least on
Page 21, Line 8a half-time basis, to provide nutrition care services for the
Page 21, Line 9treatment or management of a diagnosed disease or medical
Page 21, Line 10condition for three of the five years immediately preceding September 1, 2026;
Page 21, Line 11(III) Provision of medical nutrition therapy to residents
Page 21, Line 12of Colorado without supervision for at least six months immediately preceding September 1, 2026; and
Page 21, Line 13(IV) The applicant is not a registered dietitian.
Page 21, Line 14(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective September 1, 2028.
Page 21, Line 1512-223-109. Disciplinary action - grounds for discipline.
Page 21, Line 16(1) Pursuant to part 4 of article 20 of this title 12, the director
Page 21, Line 17may deny or refuse to renew a license, suspend or revoke a
Page 21, Line 18license, impose probationary conditions on a license, issue a
Page 22, Line 1cease-and-desist letter, or seek injunctive relief against a
Page 22, Line 2licensee or an applicant for licensure who has engaged in one or
Page 22, Line 3more of the following grounds for discipline or unprofessional conduct:
Page 22, Line 4(a) Engaging in conduct involving fraud, deceit,
Page 22, Line 5misrepresentation, or concealment of material facts in
Page 22, Line 6obtaining or attempting to obtain a license or the renewal of a license;
Page 22, Line 7(b) Committing an act of malpractice, gross negligence, or incompetence in the practice of dietetics or nutrition;
Page 22, Line 8(c) Except as otherwise provided in section 12-223-113,
Page 22, Line 9practicing medical nutrition therapy without a valid license
Page 22, Line 10issued under this article 223, the penalty for which is set forth in section 12-223-115;
Page 22, Line 11(d) Engaging in conduct that could result in harm or injury to the public;
Page 22, Line 12(e) Adjudication of incompetency until proof of recovery from the condition can be established; and
Page 22, Line 13(f) Being convicted in a court of, or having entered a plea
Page 22, Line 14of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime directly related to the
Page 22, Line 15duties and responsibilities of a dietitian or nutritionist or a crime that was violent or sexual in nature.
Page 22, Line 1612-223-110. Provisional and limited permits. (1) The director
Page 22, Line 17may issue an individual a provisional license to practice as a
Page 22, Line 18dietitian or a nutritionist upon the filing of an application with
Page 22, Line 19payment of an appropriate fee, the submission of evidence of
Page 22, Line 20successful completion of the educational and supervised
Page 23, Line 1practice requirements, and the submission of evidence that the
Page 23, Line 2individual has applied to take an examination described in section 12-223-107 (1)(a)(III) or 12-223-108 (1)(c)(I).
Page 23, Line 3(2) A provisional license expires one year after the date of issuance and is not eligible for renewal.
Page 23, Line 4(3) A dietitian provisional license authorizes the licensee to practice only under the supervision of a licensed dietitian.
Page 23, Line 5(4) A nutritionist provisional license authorizes the
Page 23, Line 6licensee to practice only under the supervision of a licensed dietitian or a licensed nutritionist.
Page 23, Line 7(5) The director shall determine the fee for issuance of a
Page 23, Line 8provisional license in the manner authorized by section 12-20-105.
Page 23, Line 912-223-111. License required - title protection. (1) Except as
Page 23, Line 10otherwise provided in section 12-223-113, on and after September
Page 23, Line 111, 2026, an individual shall not engage in or offer to provide
Page 23, Line 12medical nutrition therapy unless the individual is licensed under this article 223.
Page 23, Line 13(2) (a) An individual shall not designate themself or hold
Page 23, Line 14themself out as a licensed dietitian unless the individual is
Page 23, Line 15licensed as a dietitian under this article 223. An individual shall
Page 23, Line 16not use or assume the title "dietitian", "dietitian nutritionist",
Page 23, Line 17or "dietician" unless the individual holds the registered
Page 23, Line 18dietitian credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration or is licensed as a dietitian under this article 223.
Page 23, Line 19(b) An individual shall not append to, or use in
Page 23, Line 20conjunction with, the individual's name the letters "LD" or
Page 24, Line 1"LDN" unless the individual is licensed as a dietitian under this article 223.
Page 24, Line 2(3) (a) An individual shall not use or assume a title
Page 24, Line 3indicating that the individual is a licensed nutritionist or append
Page 24, Line 4to, or use in conjunction with, the individual's name the letters
Page 24, Line 5"LN" unless the individual is licensed as a nutritionist under this article 223.
Page 24, Line 6(b) An individual shall not designate themself or hold
Page 24, Line 7themself out as a nutritionist or use or assume the title
Page 24, Line 8"nutritionist" unless the individual is licensed under this article 223.
Page 24, Line 9(4) An individual is not prohibited by this article 223 from
Page 24, Line 10identifying themself using an earned, federally trademarked
Page 24, Line 11nutrition credential, but such permitted use does not give the
Page 24, Line 12individual the right to practice medical nutrition therapy unless the individual is also licensed under this article 223.
Page 24, Line 1312-223-112. Qualified supervisors - duties. (1) (a) To qualify
Page 24, Line 14as a qualified supervisor for purposes of this article 223, an individual must meet the following requirements:
Page 24, Line 15(I) If supervising a student or trainee who is providing
Page 24, Line 16medical nutrition therapy in a state that provides for licensure
Page 24, Line 17or certification of dietitians, dietitian nutritionists, or nutritionists, the individual must be one of the following:
Page 24, Line 18(A) A licensed dietitian, a licensed nutritionist, or a
Page 24, Line 19health-care provider licensed or certified in a state or
Page 24, Line 20territory in the United States, including licensed or certified
Page 24, Line 21dietitians, dietitian nutritionists, or nutritionists, whose scope
Page 25, Line 1of practice includes the provision of medical nutrition therapy; or
Page 25, Line 2(B) An employee of the federal government authorized
Page 25, Line 3within the discharge of the individual's official duties to provide medical nutrition therapy;
Page 25, Line 4(II) If supervising a student or trainee in a state that does
Page 25, Line 5not provide for licensure or certification of dietitians, dietitian
Page 25, Line 6nutritionists, or nutritionists, the individual meets other
Page 25, Line 7criteria as the director may establish, including being a
Page 25, Line 8registered dietitian or a licensed health-care provider whose
Page 25, Line 9scope of practice includes the provision of medical nutrition therapy; and
Page 25, Line 10(III) Unless the individual is an employee of the federal
Page 25, Line 11government authorized within the discharge of the individual's
Page 25, Line 12official duties to provide medical nutrition therapy, the
Page 25, Line 13individual must be licensed in this state if supervising a student
Page 25, Line 14or trainee who is providing medical nutrition therapy to an individual located in this state.
Page 25, Line 15(b) A qualified supervisor shall only supervise a clinical
Page 25, Line 16activity or nutrition care service for which the qualified supervisor is qualified and is authorized to perform.
Page 25, Line 17(c) A qualified supervisor shall develop and carry out a
Page 25, Line 18program for advancing and optimizing the quality of care
Page 25, Line 19provided by a student or trainee being supervised. The qualified
Page 25, Line 20supervisor and the student or trainee being supervised shall
Page 25, Line 21identify and document goals for supervised practice experience,
Page 25, Line 22the assignment of clinical tasks as appropriate to the supervised
Page 26, Line 1individual's evolving level of competence, the supervised
Page 26, Line 2individual's relationship and access to the qualified supervisor,
Page 26, Line 3and a process for evaluating the student or trainee's performance.
Page 26, Line 4(d) A qualified supervisor shall oversee the activities of,
Page 26, Line 5and approve and accept responsibility for the nutrition care services rendered by, the student or trainee.
Page 26, Line 6(e) A qualified supervisor shall be physically on site and
Page 26, Line 7present where the supervised individual is providing nutrition
Page 26, Line 8care services or be immediately and continuously available to
Page 26, Line 9the supervised individual by means of two-way, real-time
Page 26, Line 10audiovisual technology that allows for direct,
Page 26, Line 11contemporaneous interaction by sight and sound between the
Page 26, Line 12qualified supervisor and the supervised individual. If the
Page 26, Line 13qualified supervisor assigns a nutrition care service to a
Page 26, Line 14supervised individual that is to be provided in a setting where
Page 26, Line 15the qualified supervisor is not routinely present, the qualified
Page 26, Line 16supervisor shall ensure that the means and methods of
Page 26, Line 17supervision are adequate to ensure appropriate patient care,
Page 26, Line 18which may include synchronous videoconferencing or another
Page 26, Line 19method of communication and oversight that is appropriate to
Page 26, Line 20the care setting and the education and experience of the supervised individual.
Page 26, Line 21(f) A qualified supervisor shall review on a regular basis
Page 26, Line 22the charts, records, and clinical notes of the supervised
Page 26, Line 23individuals and maintain responsibility for the supervised
Page 26, Line 24individuals' clinical record keeping.
Page 27, Line 1(g) A qualified supervisor shall be available to render
Page 27, Line 2assistance during the provision of nutrition care services when
Page 27, Line 3requested by a patient or shall have arranged for another
Page 27, Line 4qualified practitioner lawfully able to render nutrition care
Page 27, Line 5services to be available in the absence of the qualified supervisor.
Page 27, Line 6(h) A qualified supervisor shall limit the assignment of
Page 27, Line 7nutrition care services to those services that are within the
Page 27, Line 8training and experience of the supervised individual and customary to the practice of the qualified supervisor.
Page 27, Line 912-223-113. Exemptions. (1) This article 223 does not affect or prevent:
Page 27, Line 10(a) A health-care professional licensed under this title 12
Page 27, Line 11and practicing in this state from engaging in the practice of
Page 27, Line 12medical nutrition therapy when medical nutrition therapy is
Page 27, Line 13within the individual's licensed scope of practice and is
Page 27, Line 14incidental to the practice for which they are licensed; except
Page 27, Line 15that such individual shall not represent themself using titles protected under section 12-223-111;
Page 27, Line 16(b) A student or trainee from engaging in the practice of medical nutrition therapy, if:
Page 27, Line 17(I) The student or trainee practices under this subsection
Page 27, Line 18(1)(b) as part of a course of study or as part of a planned,
Page 27, Line 19continuous supervised practice experience to satisfy
Page 27, Line 20educational or supervised practice experience requirements described in section 12-223-107 (1)(a) or 12-223-108 (1)(b);
Page 27, Line 21(II) The student or trainee who is completing the
Page 28, Line 1supervised practice experience required under section 12-223-107
Page 28, Line 2(1)(a)(II) or 12-223-108 (1)(b) practices under this subsection (1)(b)
Page 28, Line 3not more than five years after completing the educational
Page 28, Line 4requirements under section 12-223-107 (1)(a)(I) or 12-223-108 (1)(a);
Page 28, Line 5(III) The student or trainee practices under this subsection (1)(b) only while supervised by a qualified supervisor;
Page 28, Line 6(IV) The student or trainee does not engage in the unrestricted practice of medical nutrition therapy; and
Page 28, Line 7(V) While practicing under this subsection (1)(b), the
Page 28, Line 8student or trainee uses a title that clearly indicates their status as a student, intern, trainee, or supervised individual;
Page 28, Line 9(c) A dietitian or nutritionist who is serving in the armed
Page 28, Line 10forces or the United States public health service or is employed
Page 28, Line 11by the United States department of veterans affairs from
Page 28, Line 12engaging in the practice of medical nutrition therapy or using
Page 28, Line 13government-issued titles, provided the practice or title use is related to such service or employment;
Page 28, Line 14(d) An individual who is employed by, or who contracts
Page 28, Line 15with, the state, a county, a municipal agency, or another
Page 28, Line 16political subdivision, for the purposes of providing nutrition
Page 28, Line 17care services for the special supplemental nutrition program
Page 28, Line 18for women, infants, and children, created pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
Page 28, Line 19sec. 1786, and who is authorized within the discharge of their
Page 28, Line 20official duties to use the title "nutritionist" from providing
Page 28, Line 21nutrition care services within the discharge of their official
Page 28, Line 22duties;
Page 29, Line 1(e) An individual who does not represent themself using
Page 29, Line 2titles protected under section 12-223-111 from providing medical weight control for obesity as part of the following:
Page 29, Line 3(I) An instructional program that has been approved in writing by at least one of the following individuals:
Page 29, Line 4(A) A dietitian or nutritionist licensed in this state; or
Page 29, Line 5(B) A health-care professional licensed or certified in
Page 29, Line 6this state whose authorized scope of practice includes medical nutrition therapy; or
Page 29, Line 7(II) A plan of care that is overseen by a health-care
Page 29, Line 8professional licensed in this state whose scope of practice
Page 29, Line 9otherwise authorizes the health-care professional to provide
Page 29, Line 10and delegate medical nutrition therapy, if the medical weight
Page 29, Line 11control services are not discretionary and do not require the exercise of professional judgment;
Page 29, Line 12(f) An individual who does not represent themself using
Page 29, Line 13titles protected under section 12-223-111 from assisting with the
Page 29, Line 14provision of medical nutrition therapy if the individual performs
Page 29, Line 15only support activities that are not discretionary and that do
Page 29, Line 16not require the exercise of professional judgment to perform,
Page 29, Line 17and the individual is directly supervised by one of the following
Page 29, Line 18licensed practitioners acting within the scope of the practitioner's license:
Page 29, Line 19(I) A licensed dietitian;
(II) A licensed nutritionist; or
Page 29, Line 20(III) A health-care professional licensed in this state;
Page 29, Line 21(g) An individual from disseminating nonindividualized,
Page 30, Line 1written, general nonmedical nutrition information in
Page 30, Line 2connection with the marketing and distribution of dietary
Page 30, Line 3supplements, food, herbs, or food materials, including
Page 30, Line 4explanations of their federally regulated label claims, their
Page 30, Line 5known drug-nutrient interactions, their role in various diets, or
Page 30, Line 6suggestions as how to best use and combine them, so long as such
Page 30, Line 7information does not constitute medical nutrition therapy and
Page 30, Line 8the individual does not represent themself using titles protected under section 12-223-111;
Page 30, Line 9(h) An individual from providing individualized nutrition
Page 30, Line 10assessments and interventions for wellness and primary
Page 30, Line 11prevention of chronic disease, health coaching, holistic and
Page 30, Line 12wellness education, guidance, motivation, behavior change
Page 30, Line 13management, services for nonmedical weight control, or other nutrition care services so long as all the following apply:
Page 30, Line 14(I) The services do not constitute medical nutrition therapy;
Page 30, Line 15(II) The individual does not represent themself using titles protected under section 12-223-111; and
Page 30, Line 16(III) The individual does not hold themself out as licensed
Page 30, Line 17or qualified to engage in the practice of medical nutrition therapy; and
Page 30, Line 18(i) An out-of-state licensed practitioner from providing
Page 30, Line 19medical nutrition therapy services via telehealth to a patient located in this state if the out-of-state licensed practitioner:
Page 30, Line 20(I) Is licensed in this state as a licensed dietitian or
Page 30, Line 21licensed nutritionist or has obtained a dietitian licensure compact privilege; or
Page 31, Line 1(II) Is a health-care professional licensed or certified in
Page 31, Line 2good standing in a state or territory, with a licensed or
Page 31, Line 3certified scope of practice that includes the provision of medical
Page 31, Line 4nutrition therapy and medical nutrition therapy services via telehealth:
Page 31, Line 5(A) In consultation with a medical nutrition therapy
Page 31, Line 6practitioner licensed in this state who has a practitioner-patient relationship with the patient;
Page 31, Line 7(B) For a patient with whom the licensed practitioner has
Page 31, Line 8a current practitioner-patient relationship, and the patient is temporarily present in this state; or
Page 31, Line 9(C) Pursuant to a current practitioner-patient
Page 31, Line 10relationship, and such care is limited to temporary or
Page 31, Line 11short-term follow-up medical nutrition therapy services to ensure continuity of care.
Page 31, Line 12(2) By engaging in telehealth with a patient located in
Page 31, Line 13this state, a licensed practitioner exempted from Colorado
Page 31, Line 14licensure under subsection (1)(i)(II) of this section consents to
Page 31, Line 15the applicable Colorado laws, rules, and regulations governing
Page 31, Line 16the licensed practitioner's profession; the jurisdiction of
Page 31, Line 17Colorado; and the jurisdiction of the applicable licensing board
Page 31, Line 18regulating the licensed practitioner's profession, including the
Page 31, Line 19licensing board's complaint, investigation, and hearing process
Page 31, Line 20and ability to seek injunctions and impose civil penalties and fines.
Page 31, Line 2112-223-114. License expiration - license renewal - continuing
Page 32, Line 1education - rules. (1) The director may renew licenses upon
Page 32, Line 2satisfactory completion of the renewal application, payment of
Page 32, Line 3the renewal fee, and the successful completion of continuing
Page 32, Line 4education requirements, including at least seventy-five hours of continuing education every five years, as adopted by rule.
Page 32, Line 5(2) The director shall adopt rules establishing continuing education requirements for renewing licenses.
Page 32, Line 612-223-115. Penalties. (1) An individual who practices or
Page 32, Line 7offers or attempts to practice in violation of section 12-223-111
Page 32, Line 8commits a class 2 misdemeanor pursuant to section 12-20-407(1)(a)(V)(Y).
Page 32, Line 9(2) In addition to other penalties or remedies imposed
Page 32, Line 10pursuant to, or rules adopted under, this article 223, the
Page 32, Line 11director may impose an administrative fine in accordance with
Page 32, Line 12section 12-20-404 (1)(c) against an individual who violates a provision of this article 223.
Page 32, Line 13(3) In addition to other penalties or remedies pursuant to,
Page 32, Line 14or rules adopted under, this article 223, the director may assess
Page 32, Line 15and collect all costs incurred in connection with disciplinary
Page 32, Line 16actions, including investigator fees, stenographer fees, attorney fees, and hearing costs.
Page 32, Line 1712-223-116. Repeal of article - review of functions.This
Page 32, Line 18article 223 is repealed, effective September 1, 2035. Before the
Page 32, Line 19repeal, this article 223 is scheduled for review in accordance with section 24-34-104.
Page 32, Line 20SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-20-202, amend
Page 32, Line 21(3)(e)(X) and (3)(e)(XI); and add (3)(e)(XII) as follows:
Page 33, Line 112-20-202. Licenses, certifications, and registrations - renewal
Page 33, Line 2- reinstatement - fees - occupational credential portability program
Page 33, Line 3- exceptions for military personnel, spouses, gold star military
Page 33, Line 4spouses, and dependents - rules - consideration of criminal
Page 33, Line 5convictions or driver's history - executive director authority -
Page 33, Line 6definitions. (3) Occupational credential portability program -
Page 33, Line 7definitions. (e) Subsections (3)(a) to (3)(d) of this section do not apply to the following professions or occupations:
Page 33, Line 8(X) Direct-entry midwives, regulated pursuant to article 225 of this title 12;
orPage 33, Line 9(XI) Surgical assistants and surgical technologists, regulated pursuant to article 310 of this title 12; or
Page 33, Line 10(XII) Dietitians and nutritionists, regulated pursuant to article 223 of this title 12.
Page 33, Line 11SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-20-407, add (1)(a)(V)(Y) as follows:
Page 33, Line 1212-20-407. Unauthorized practice of profession or occupation
Page 33, Line 13- penalties - exclusions. (1) (a) A person commits a class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501 if the person:
Page 33, Line 14(V) Practices or offers or attempts to practice any of the following
Page 33, Line 15professions or occupations without an active license, certification, or
Page 33, Line 16registration issued under the part or article of this title 12 governing the particular profession or occupation:
Page 33, Line 17(Y) Medical nutrition therapy, as regulated under article 223 of this title 12.
Page 33, Line 18SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 6-1-724, amend
Page 33, Line 19(6)(s) and (6)(t); and add (6)(u) as follows:
Page 34, Line 16-1-724. Unlicensed alternative health-care practitioners -
Page 34, Line 2deceptive trade practices - short title - legislative declaration -
Page 34, Line 3definitions. (6) A complementary and alternative health-care practitioner
Page 34, Line 4providing complementary and alternative health-care services under this section who is not licensed, certified, or registered by the state shall not:
Page 34, Line 5(s) Recommend the discontinuation of a course of care, including
Page 34, Line 6a prescription drug, that was recommended or prescribed by a health-care professional;
orPage 34, Line 7(t) Hold
oneselfPage 34, Line 8imply to a client or prospective client that
he or shePage 34, Line 9practitioner is a physician, surgeon, or both, or that
he or she isPage 34, Line 10are a health-care professional who is licensed, certified, or registered by the state; or
Page 34, Line 11(u) Provide medical nutrition therapy, as regulated under
Page 34, Line 12article 223 of title 12, unless exempt from regulation pursuant to section 12-223-113.
Page 34, Line 13SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 6-1-707 (1)(b).
Page 34, Line 14SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-34-104, add (36)(a)(VII) as follows:
Page 34, Line 1524-34-104. General assembly review of regulatory agencies
Page 34, Line 16and functions for repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative
Page 34, Line 17declaration - repeal. (36) (a) The following agencies, functions, or both are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2035:
Page 34, Line 18(VII) The regulation of dietitians and nutritionists in accordance with article 223 of title 12.
Page 34, Line 19SECTION 7. Appropriation. (1) For the 2025-26 state fiscal
Page 35, Line 1year, $100,934 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies.
Page 35, Line 2This appropriation is from the division of professions and occupations
Page 35, Line 3cash fund created in section 12-20-105 (3), C.R.S. To implement this act, the department may use this appropriation as follows:
Page 35, Line 4(a) $53,152 for use by the division of professions and occupations
Page 35, Line 5for personal services, which amount is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 0.5 FTE;
Page 35, Line 6(b) $7,310 for use by the division of professions and occupations for operating expenses; and
Page 35, Line 7(c) $40,122 for the purchase of legal services.
Page 35, Line 8(2) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $40,122 is appropriated to
Page 35, Line 9the department of law. This appropriation is from reappropriated funds
Page 35, Line 10received from the department of regulatory agencies under subsection
Page 35, Line 11(1)(c) of this section and is based on an assumption that the department
Page 35, Line 12of law will require an additional 0.2 FTE. To implement this act, the
Page 35, Line 13department of law may use this appropriation to provide legal services for the department of regulatory agencies.
Page 35, Line 14SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date -
Page 35, Line 15applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
Page 35, Line 16the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
Page 35, Line 17general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant
Page 35, Line 18to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an
Page 35, Line 19item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,
Page 35, Line 20section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 35, Line 21general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 35, Line 22effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the
Page 35, Line 23governor.
Page 36, Line 1(2) This act applies to offenses committed on or after the applicable effective date of this act.