New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico Senate Bill SB204 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/30/2025

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SENATE BILL 204
57
TH LEGISLATURE 
-
 
STATE
 
OF
 
NEW
 
MEXICO
 
-
 FIRST SESSION
,
 
2025
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. Trujillo
AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; ENACTING THE NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
PRACTICE ACT; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; REPEALING
SECTIONS 61-7A-1 THROUGH 61-7A-15 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 1989,
CHAPTER 387, SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 15, AS AMENDED).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1.  [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1
through 15 of this act may be cited as the "Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act".
SECTION 2.  [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the
Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act:
A.  "accreditation council" means the accreditation
council for education in nutrition and dietetics or the
council's successor organization; 
B.  "advisory board" means the nutrition and
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dietetics practice advisory board;
C.  "commission" means the commission on dietetic
registration, or the commission's successor organization; 
D.  "department" means the regulation and licensing
department;
E.  "dietetics practice" means the integration and
application of scientific principles related to how food and
nutrition affect human health.  "Dietetics practice" includes
treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting for acute or
chronic conditions, requires clinical decision-making skills
and involves providing a range of nutrition care services to
promote wellness and prevent, manage or treat a disease or
medical condition, including:
(1)  providing medical nutrition therapy to
promote wellness and prevent, manage or treat diseases or
medical conditions;
(2)  developing and ordering therapeutic diets
through oral, enteral or parenteral routes; and
(3)  administering other advanced medical
nutrition therapy and related support activities consistent
with current competencies required of academic and supervised
practice programs accredited by the accreditation council and
in accordance with the Revised 2024 Scope and Standards of
Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist published by
the commission;
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F.  "dietitian" means a health care practitioner 
who is licensed to engage in nutrition practice or dietetics
practice;
G.  "medical nutrition therapy" means a nutrition-
based treatment plan developed to help manage or treat or
prevent a disease or medical condition and may include:
(1)  nutrition assessment; 
(2)  nutrition diagnosis;
(3)  nutrition intervention; and
(4)  nutrition monitoring and evaluation;
H.  "nutrition care services" means a comprehensive
group of services used to design, implement and evaluate
nutrition interventions for preventing or treating a disease or
medical condition, including:
(1)  assessing and evaluating the nutritional
needs of individuals or groups and determining resources and
constraints in a practice setting; 
(2)  ordering nutrition-related laboratory
tests to check and track the status of those nutrition-related
items ordered for testing;
(3)  identifying nutrition problems and
establishing priorities, goals and objectives to meet
nutritional needs in a manner consistent with available
resources and constraints;
(4)  creating a personalized dietary plan and
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issuing and implementing orders, which may include therapeutic
diets to meet nutrition needs and monitoring the effectiveness
of the personalized dietary plan;
(5)  determining and providing appropriate
nutrition intervention, including nutrition counseling
regarding food and prescription drug interactions; and
(6)  evaluating, revising and maintaining
appropriate standards of quality in food and nutrition
services;
I.  "nutrition practice" means the integration and
application of scientific principles related to how food and
nutrition affect human health.  "Nutrition practice" requires
clinical decision-making skills and consistent with the
practitioner's level of competence involves providing a range
of nutrition care services to promote wellness and prevent,
manage or treat a disease or medical condition; provided that
the treatment of chronic conditions may take place only in the
outpatient setting.  "Nutrition practice" includes:
(1)  medical nutrition therapy;
(2)  ordering oral therapeutic diets;
(3)  ordering medical laboratory tests related
to nutritional therapeutic treatments; or 
(4)  providing recommendations for vitamin,
mineral or other dietary supplements;
J.  "nutritionist" means a health care practitioner
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licensed to engage in nutrition practice;
K.  "patient" means an individual who is a recipient
of care or services provided pursuant to the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act;
L.  "provisional permit" means a temporary permit to
practice as a dietitian or nutritionist that is issued to a
person by the department, is valid for one year and allows the
person to practice only under the supervision of a licensed
dietitian or licensed nutritionist; 
M.  "registered dietitian" means a licensed
dietitian who is credentialed by the commission as a:
(1)  registered dietitian, authorized to use
the corresponding abbreviation "R.D."; or 
(2)  registered dietitian nutritionist, 
authorized to use the corresponding abbreviation "R.D.N.";
N.  "superintendent" means the superintendent of 
regulation and licensing;
O.  "telehealth" means the use of electronic
information and telecommunications technologies to provide
health care services by a health care practitioner in one
location to a recipient of the services in another location;
and
P.  "therapeutic diet" means a food or nutrient diet
intervention provided through oral, enteral or parenteral
routes, prescribed by a health care practitioner as part of a
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treatment to modify, eliminate, decrease or increase identified
micronutrients or macronutrients in a patient's diet or to
provide mechanically altered food when indicated.
SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] LICENSE REQUIRED--EXEMPTIONS.-- 
A.  Except as provided in Section 4 of the Nutrition
and Dietetics Practice Act, a person shall not engage in, or
offer to provide, medical nutrition therapy unless the person
holds a valid dietitian or nutritionist license in good
standing in this state. 
B.  A person who does not hold a valid dietitian or
nutritionist license in good standing in this state shall not:
(1)  advertise, present or represent to the
public in any manner that the person is licensed or lawfully
authorized to practice as a dietitian or nutritionist; 
(2)  use the title of licensed dietitian or
dietitian nutritionist or any other title, abbreviation,
letters, figures, signs or devices that indicate or could
reasonably indicate to the public that the person is licensed
to practice as a dietitian or dietitian nutritionist; or
(3)  use the title of licensed nutritionist,
nutritionist or any other title, abbreviation, letters,
figures, signs or devices that indicate or could reasonably
indicate to the public that the person is licensed to practice
as a nutritionist.
SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] LICENSING EXEMPTIONS.--It is
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not a violation of the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act for
a person who is in compliance with Section 3 of that act and
who: 
A.  is a health care provider in this state to
lawfully provide medical nutrition therapy that is within the
scope of the health care provider's license;
B.  is serving in the armed forces or the United
States public health service or employed by the United States
department of veterans affairs as a dietitian or nutritionist
to provide medical nutrition therapy and to use government-
issued titles; provided that medical nutrition therapy provided
or the title used by the dietitian or nutritionist is related
to the dietitian's or nutritionist's armed forces service or
United States department of veterans affairs employment;
C.  disseminates non-individualized, written,
general non-medical nutrition information in connection with
the marketing and distribution of dietary supplements, food,
herbs or food materials, including explanations of federally
regulated label claims, known drug-nutrient interactions, role
in various diets or suggestions for the best use and
combinations of uses in a manner that does not constitute
medical nutrition therapy pursuant to the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act;
 D.  provides medical weight control services for
the treatment of obesity as part of:
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(1)  an instructional program approved in
writing by at least one of the following:
(a)  a licensed dietitian or licensed
nutritionist in this state; or
(b)  a health care provider licensed in
this state whose authorized scope of practice includes medical
nutrition therapy; or
(2)  a plan of care that is overseen by a
health care provider licensed in this state whose scope of
practice authorizes the health care provider to provide medical
nutrition therapy or to delegate the provision of medical
nutrition therapy services to a delegated person; provided that
the medical nutrition therapy services delegated are not
discretionary on the part of the delegated person and do not
require the exercise of professional judgment by the delegated
person;
E.  is delegated to assist in providing medical
nutrition therapy services if the delegated person performs
only support activities that are not at the delegated person's
discretion and do not require the delegated person's exercise
of professional judgment and the delegated person is directly
supervised by a licensed dietitian, licensed nutritionist or 
licensed health care provider acting within the scope of the
licensee's license;
F.  is a student, intern or trainee of an approved
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or accredited dietetics or nutrition education or training
program and who engages in nutrition or dietetics practice
activities under the supervision of a licensed dietitian or
licensed nutritionist as a part of an approved or accredited
education or training program for the duration of participation
in that program; 
G.  is recognized in the person's community as a
curandero or medicine man and who advises or ministers to
various community members according to traditional community
practices;
H.  is employed by, or under contract with, an
agency of this state or an agency of a county, municipality or
political subdivision of this state for the purposes of
providing nutrition care services for the women, infants and
children program administered by the department of health and
is authorized within the discharge of that person's official
duties to use the title "nutritionist"; or
I.  provides individualized nutrition
recommendations for wellness and the prevention of chronic
disease, health coaching, holistic and wellness education,
guidance, motivation, behavior change management, services for
non-medical weight control or other nutrition care services;
provided that the services do not constitute medical nutrition
therapy.
SECTION 5. [NEW MATERIAL] ADVISORY BOARD CREATED.--
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A.  The superintendent shall appoint a "nutrition
and dietetics practice advisory board" that is administratively
attached to the department.  The advisory board consists of
three members who are New Mexico residents and who are
appointed for staggered three-year terms.  One member shall be
a licensed dietitian with at least three years of dietetics
practice in this state, one member shall be a nutritionist
licensed in this state and one member shall be a health care
provider licensed in this state. 
B.  An advisory board member shall not serve more
than two full terms.  Each advisory board member shall hold
office until the expiration of the term for which the member is
appointed or until a successor has been appointed.  A vacancy
shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term within
ninety days of the vacancy through appointment by the
superintendent.
C.  The advisory board shall elect biennially a
chair and such other officers as appropriate to administer its
duties.  The advisory board shall meet at least once a year and
at such other times as deemed necessary by the superintendent. 
Meetings shall be called by the superintendent or upon the
written request of two advisory board members.  Two members
constitutes a quorum.  A member failing to attend, after proper
notice, two consecutive meetings shall automatically be removed
as an advisory board member.
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D.  The members of the advisory board shall be
reimbursed as provided for nonsalaried public officers pursuant
to the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other
compensation, perquisite or allowance.
SECTION 6. [NEW MATERIAL] DEPARTMENT--DUTIES AND POWERS--
RULE PROMULGATION.--In carrying out the department's duties,
the superintendent may consult with the advisory board or
delegate certain authority to the advisory board regarding
matters deemed appropriate by the superintendent.  The
department, including department staff as directed by the
superintendent, shall:
A.  prescribe and provide for the administration of
appropriate licensing examinations for qualified applicants;
B.  evaluate the qualifications of applicants for
licensure under the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act;
C.  issue licenses to applicants who meet the
requirements of the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act;
D.  investigate persons engaging in practices that
may violate the provisions of the Nutrition and Dietetics
Practice Act;
E.  revoke, suspend or deny a license in accordance
with the provisions of the Uniform Licensing Act;
F.  adopt an annual budget; and
G.  adopt and file in accordance with the State
Rules Act rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the
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Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act; provided that no rule may
be adopted, amended or repealed without approval by the
superintendent.
SECTION 7. [NEW MATERIAL] LICENSURE--REQUIREMENTS--
QUALIFIED SUPERVISOR--TERM OF LICENSE.--
A.  As used in this section:
(1)  "qualified supervisor" means an individual
providing supervision of a supervisee; and
(2)  "supervisee" means a student, intern or
trainee for whom a qualified supervisor assumes full
professional responsibility by verifying, directing and
approving that supervisee's provision of nutrition care
services, medical nutrition therapy or other supervised
activities.
B.  The department shall issue a dietitian license
to an applicant who files a completed dietitian license
application, pays all required fees and certifies and furnishes
evidence satisfactory to the department:
(1)  that the applicant has a valid current
registration with the commission that gives the applicant the
right to use the term "registered dietitian" or "R.D."; or 
(2)  that the applicant has:
(a)  a master's degree or doctoral degree
from a college or university accredited at the time of the
applicant's graduation by a United States institutional
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accrediting body for higher education recognized by the United
States department of education or the foreign equivalent and a
program of study accredited by the accreditation council for
education in nutrition and dietetics;
(b)  completed a planned, documented and
supervised practice experience in dietetics practice and
nutrition practice that is approved by the department and
accredited by the accreditation council and that includes at
least one thousand hours of supervised practice experience
under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.  A supervised
practice experience under this subsection shall be completed by
the applicant within five years of completing the requirements
under Subparagraph (a) of this paragraph unless the department,
for extraordinary circumstances, grants an extension for a
limited time; and
(c)  successfully passed the registration
examination for dietitians administered by the commission.  
C.  The department shall issue a nutritionist
license to an applicant who files a completed nutritionist
license application, pays all required fees and certifies and
furnishes evidence satisfactory to the department that the
applicant has:
(1)  a master's degree or doctorate in human
nutrition, nutrition education, foods and nutrition or public
health nutrition from a college or university accredited at the
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time of the applicant's graduation by a United States
institutional accrediting body for higher education recognized
by the United States department of education or a doctoral
degree or validated foreign equivalent in a field of clinical
health care from a college or university accredited at the time
of the applicant's graduation by a United States institutional
accrediting body for higher education recognized by the United
States department of education.  Regardless of the applicant's
course of study, the applicant shall have completed course work
leading to competence in medical nutrition therapy that
includes:
(a)  fifteen semester hours of clinical
or life sciences, three semester hours of which shall be in
human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent; and
(b)  fifteen semester hours of nutrition
and metabolism, six semester hours of which shall be in
biochemistry; 
(2)  completed a planned, documented and
continuous supervised practice experience under the supervision
of a qualified supervisor demonstrating competence in nutrition
practice, including the provision of medical nutrition therapy
approved by the department and meeting the following
requirements:
(a)  a supervised practice experience
completed pursuant to this subsection that shall include at
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least one thousand hours, with a minimum of two hundred hours
in nutrition assessment, nutrition intervention and nutrition
monitoring and evaluation; and 
(b)  the practice experience is
determined by the department to have prepared the applicant to
provide nutrition care services for various populations of
diverse cultures and genders and across the life cycle and to
be able to competently formulate actionable medical nutrition
therapies and interventions, education, counseling and ongoing
care for the prevention, modulation and management of a range
of chronic medical conditions; and
(3)  completed examination requirements by
demonstrating: 
(a)  passage of the certified nutrition
specialist examination approved by the department and
administered by the board for certification of nutrition
specialists or its successor organization;
(b)  passage of an examination on all
aspects of nutrition practice that has been reviewed under a
program that requires a master's degree or higher, is
accredited by the national commission for certifying agencies
and is approved by the department; or
(c)  the applicant holds a valid current
certification with the board for certification of nutrition
specialists or the board's successor organization that gives
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the applicant the right to use the title "certified nutrition
specialist".
D.  Each qualified supervisor shall:
(1)  be licensed in this state when supervising
a supervisee who is providing medical nutrition therapy
services to a patient in this state, unless the person
supervising a supervisee is an employee of the federal
government authorized within the discharge of the employee's
official duties to provide medical nutrition therapy;
(2)  only supervise a clinical activity or
nutrition care service that the qualified supervisor is
authorized to perform;
(3)  oversee the activities of and approve and
accept responsibility for the nutrition care services rendered
by a supervisee;
(4)  review on a regular basis the charts,
records and clinical notes of each supervisee and maintain
responsibility for each supervisee's clinical recordkeeping;
(5)  render assistance during a supervisee's 
provision of nutrition care services when requested by the
patient or arrange for another qualified practitioner who is
lawfully able to render the nutrition care services in the
qualified supervisor's absence; and
(6)  develop and carry out a program for
advancing and optimizing the quality of care provided by a
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supervisee by:
(a)  together with the supervisee,
identifying and documenting goals for the supervisee's practice
experience;
(b)  assigning the supervisee clinical
tasks as appropriate based on the supervisee's level of
competence;
(c)  determining the supervisee's methods
of communication or interaction with, and access to, the
qualified supervisor; and 
(d)  establishing a process for
evaluating the supervisee's performance. 
E.  A valid license issued pursuant to the Nutrition
and Dietetics Practice Act shall be displayed at the licensee's
place of employment. 
F.  A license issued pursuant to the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act shall be issued for a period of two
years.
SECTION 8. [NEW MATERIAL] EXPEDITED LICENSURE.--
A.  The department shall issue an expedited license
as a dietitian or nutritionist to an applicant who presents a
valid, unrestricted license as a dietitian or nutritionist in
another licensing jurisdiction and is in good standing with the
licensing entity of that licensing jurisdiction.  The
department shall, as soon as practicable but no later than
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thirty days after an out-of-state licensee files an application
for an expedited license accompanied by the required fees,
process the application and issue the expedited license in
accordance with Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978.
B.  The department may require a licensee whose
license is obtained pursuant to this section to pass a
department-approved examination to continue to be licensed in
New Mexico.
C.  The department shall determine by rule the other
states and territories of the United States and the District of
Columbia from which it will not accept applicants for expedited
licensure and the foreign countries from which it will accept
applicants for expedited licensure.  The department shall post
the list of disapproved and approved licensing jurisdictions on
the department's website.  The list of disapproved licensing
jurisdictions shall include the specific reasons for
disapproval.  The lists shall be reviewed annually to determine
if amendments to the rule are warranted.
SECTION 9. [NEW MATERIAL] PROVISIONAL PERMIT.--A
provisional permit to practice as a dietitian or nutritionist
may be issued by the department upon the filing of an
application and submission of evidence of successful completion
of the education and supervised practice requirements and an
application to take a licensing examination recognized under
the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act.  No fee in addition
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to the application and license fees shall be charged for the
issuance of a provisional permit.  The permit shall be valid
for up to one year or until the person holding the provisional
permit's application for licensure is approved and a license
issued, whichever is first.  A provisionally licensed dietitian
shall only practice under a licensed dietitian, and a
provisionally licensed nutritionist shall only practice under
either a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist.
SECTION 10. [NEW MATERIAL] LICENSE RENEWAL--CONTINUING
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.-- 
A.  A person licensed under the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act shall renew that person's license
biennially on or before the expiration date of the initial or
renewal license.
B.  The department shall issue a renewal license to
the licensee upon receipt of the renewal application, the
renewal fee and proof satisfactory to the department of
compliance with continuing education requirements.
C.  Continuing education requirements for licensees
shall be established by the department; provided that:
(1)  for licensed dietitians, the requirements
shall be those established by the commission; and
(2)  for licensed nutritionists, at least
seventy-five clock hours, or the equivalent, during a five-year
period shall be required to be obtained in increments of
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fifteen clock hours annually or as otherwise approved by the
department.
D.  A person who fails to renew that person's
license within thirty days of expiration may be reinstated by
the department and issued a renewal license upon submission of
a renewal application with proof satisfactory to the department
of that person's compliance with the continuing education and
other requirements of the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act
and payment of the biannual renewal fee and an additional
reinstatement fee.
SECTION 11.  [NEW MATERIAL] FEES.-- 
A.  Except as provided in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978,
the department shall establish a schedule of reasonable fees
for licenses and renewal of licenses.  Fees are non-refundable
and shall be established based on processing requirements for
each category.
B.  The initial license fee shall be set in an
amount not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300).
C.  A license renewal fee shall be established in an
amount not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300).
D.  A license reinstatement fee shall be established
in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
SECTION 12.  [NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION AND DIETETICS FUND
CREATED--DISPOSITION--METHOD OF PAYMENT.--
A.  There is created in the state treasury the
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"nutrition and dietetics fund" to be administered by the
department.
B.  All money transferred to, pursuant to Section 18
of this 2025 act, received or collected by the department under
that act shall be deposited with the state treasurer, who shall
place the money to the credit of the nutrition and dietetics
fund.  Any balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year
shall not revert to the general fund.
C.  Money in the nutrition and dietetics fund shall
be appropriated by the legislature to the department for the
purpose of implementing and administering the provisions of the
Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act.
D.  Disbursements from the nutrition and dietetics
fund shall be pursuant to vouchers issued and signed by the
superintendent upon warrants signed by the secretary of finance
and administration.
SECTION 13. [NEW MATERIAL] LICENSE--DENIAL--SUSPENSION--
REVOCATION--REINSTATEMENT.--
A.  The department may refuse to issue or renew or
may deny, suspend or revoke a license held or applied for under
the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Uniform Licensing Act upon grounds
that the licensee or applicant:
(1)  is guilty of fraud or misrepresentation in
the procurement of a license under the Nutrition and Dietetics
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Practice Act;
(2)  is subject to the imposition of 
disciplinary action by an agency of another state that
regulates dietitians or nutritionists but not to exceed the
period or extent of that action;
(3)  is convicted of a crime:
(a)  directly related to the duties and
responsibilities of a dietitian or nutritionist;
(b)  that was violent or sexual in
nature; or 
(c)  for which the licensee or applicant 
entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.  The record of
conviction or a certified copy of it shall be conclusive
evidence of the conviction;
(4)  is grossly negligent or incompetent in the
practice as a dietitian or nutritionist;
(5)  has failed to fulfill continuing education
requirements; or
(6)  has violated or aided or abetted any
person to violate a provision of the Nutrition and Dietetics
Practice Act or a rule promulgated pursuant to that act.
B.  One year from the date of revocation of a
license under the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act,
application may be made to the department for restoration of
the license.  The department shall provide by rule for the
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criteria governing application and examination for restoration
of a revoked license.
SECTION 14. [NEW MATERIAL] PENALTY--ENFORCEMENT.--
A.  Violation of any provision of the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act is a misdemeanor.
B.  The department may bring a civil action in any
district court to enforce the provisions of the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act.
SECTION 15.  [NEW MATERIAL] TERMINATION OF AGENCY LIFE--
DELAYED REPEAL.--The nutrition and dietetics practice advisory
board is terminated on July 1, 2031 pursuant to the Sunset Act. 
The board shall continue to operate according to the provisions
of the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act until July 1, 2032. 
Effective July 1, 2032, the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice
Act is repealed.
SECTION 16. Section 24-25-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2004,
Chapter 48, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"24-25-3.  DEFINITIONS.--As used in the New Mexico
Telehealth Act:
A.  "health care provider" means a person licensed
to provide health care to patients in New Mexico, including:
(1)  an optometrist;
(2)  a chiropractic physician;
(3)  a dentist;
(4)  a physician;
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(5)  a [podiatrist] podiatric physician ;
(6)  an osteopathic physician;
(7)  a physician assistant;
(8)  a certified nurse practitioner;
(9)  a physical therapist;
(10)  an occupational therapist;
(11)  a speech-language pathologist;
(12)  a doctor of oriental medicine;
(13)  a nutritionist;
(14)  a psychologist; 
(15)  a certified nurse-midwife;
(16)  a clinical nurse specialist;
(17)  a registered nurse;
(18)  a dental hygienist;
(19)  a pharmacist;
(20)  a licensed independent social worker;
(21)  a licensed counselor;
(22)  a community health representative; [or ]
(23)  a licensed athletic trainer; or
(24)  a dietitian;
B.  "originating site" means a place where a patient
may receive health care via telehealth.  An originating site
may include:
(1)  a licensed inpatient center;
(2)  an ambulatory surgical or treatment
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center;
(3)  a skilled nursing center;
(4)  a residential treatment center;
(5)  a home health agency;
(6)  a diagnostic laboratory or imaging center;
(7)  an assisted living center;
(8)  a school-based health program;
(9)  a mobile clinic;
(10)  a mental health clinic;
(11)  a rehabilitation or other therapeutic
health setting;
(12)  the patient's residence;
(13)  a federally qualified health center; or
(14)  a community health center; and
C.  "telehealth" means the use of electronic
information, imaging and communication technologies, including
interactive audio, video, data communications as well as store-
and-forward technologies, to provide and support health care
delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of
medical data and education."
SECTION 17. TEMPORARY PROVISION--LICENSE STATUS.--A
person who is:
A.  licensed as a dietitian under the Nutrition and
Dietetics Practice Act on the effective date of this act shall
remain licensed as a licensed dietitian until the expiration of
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the license without meeting any additional requirements;
B.  licensed as a nutritionist under the Nutrition
and Dietetics Practice Act on the effective date of this act
shall remain licensed as a licensed nutritionist until the
expiration of the license without meeting any additional
requirements; and
C.  licensed as a dietitian with a registered
dietitian credential under the Nutrition and Dietetics Practice
Act on the effective date of this act shall remain licensed as
a dietitian with a registered dietitian credential until the
expiration of the license without meeting any additional
requirements.
SECTION 18. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TRANSFER OF FUND,
FUNCTIONS, PERSONNEL, PROPERTY, CONTRACTS, RULES AND REFERENCES
IN LAW.--On July 1, 2025:
A.  the nutrition and dietetics fund, including all
money in that fund, and all other funds, functions, personnel,
appropriations, money, records, furniture, equipment, supplies
and other property of the nutrition and dietetics practice
board shall be transferred to the regulation and licensing
department;
B.  all contracts of the nutrition and dietetics
practice board and rules adopted by that board shall be binding
on the regulation and licensing department; and 
C.  all references in law to the nutrition and
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dietetics practice board shall be deemed to be references to
the regulation and licensing department.
SECTION 19. REPEAL.--Sections 61-7A-1 through 61-7A-15
NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 387, Sections 1 through 15,
as amended) are repealed.
SECTION 20.  EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
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