Bill
SB 2223
North Dakota joins the Dietitian Licensure Compact, enabling RDs/RDNs to practice in other member states via a compact privilege while preserving state licensure oversight.
Status
- Bill: SB 2223 — An Act to create and enact chapter 43‑44.1 of the North Dakota Century Code (adopting the Dietitian Licensure Compact).
- Introduced: March 11, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State March 20, 2025. Read first time March 25, 2025; referred to the Senate Business & Commerce Committee.
- Primary sponsors (ND): Senators Barta, Axtman, Burckhard; Representatives Bahl, Frelich. Companion: HB 1853.
Purpose
- To adopt an interstate compact that facilitates multistate practice by licensed dietitians, improving public access to dietetic services (including via telehealth), while preserving state regulatory authority to protect public health and safety.
- To create licensure portability through a “compact privilege” that permits practice in other compact member states without obtaining separate state licenses.
Key provisions and structure (high-level)
- Creates chapter 43‑44.1 NDCC to enter North Dakota into the Dietitian Licensure Compact in substantially the form set out in the bill.
- Establishes core definitions used by the compact: e.g., “compact privilege,” “home state,” “remote state,” “registered dietitian (RD/RDN),” ACEND (accreditation council), and CDR (commission on dietetic registration).
- Compact privilege: qualifying licensees in their home state can obtain authorization equivalent to a license to practice in other member states (remote states) without separate licensure.
- Eligibility: generally requires an active, unencumbered license in the home state and meeting uniform requirements (education, CDR credentialing, examinations, continuing education) as set by the compact (text truncated in bill).
- State participation: a state must license dietitians and have regulatory mechanisms in place to join; member states agree to exchange licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information.
- Enforcement and discipline: member states retain authority to take adverse actions; a licensee may be subject to the laws and discipline of the remote state where care is provided. The compact contemplates sharing “current significant investigative information” among states.
- Governance: creates a “compact commission” (the Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission) to administer the compact, promulgate rules, and operate a data system/repository for licensure and disciplinary information (details in later articles).
- Provisions to support active military members and spouses (portability for relocating service members).
Who is affected
- Licensed dietitians (RDs/RDNs) practicing in North Dakota who meet compact eligibility — potentially gain streamlined authority to practice in other member states via a compact privilege.
- North Dakota Board/agency that regulates dietitians — required to share investigative and disciplinary data and to act under compact rules when North Dakota is a member state.
- Patients and health-care entities — potentially greater access to dietetic services across state lines, including telehealth.
- Active military members and spouses — enhanced portability when relocating between member states.
Procedural/timeline notes and implementation
- The bill creates state law authorizing North Dakota to join the multistate compact. The compact becomes operational only as other states enact compatible laws; compact governance, rulemaking, and data system implementation timelines depend on the compact commission’s formation and specified effective‑date provisions (Article XII referenced in the compact text).
- By design, states that enact the compact before a specified effective date may be treated as “charter member states” (text references this status).
Potential impacts / considerations
- Benefits: increased patient access, simplified multistate practice and telehealth for dietitians, administrative efficiencies, support for military families.
- State obligations: licensing board must participate in information sharing and may need to implement administrative and technical processes to integrate with the compact commission and data system.
- Professional obligations: licensees must maintain unencumbered licenses and meet uniform requirements; subject to disciplinary jurisdiction of remote states where they practice under the compact privilege.
Note: The bill text in the files is the compact language through Articles I–III and definitions; several later articles (governance, data systems, fiscal provisions, effective date) are referenced but truncated. Further legislative or commission rules will specify operational details.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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