Iowa Legislative Alert

IOWA LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Legislation: House Study Bill 138

Status: Defeated in Committee

Hearing/Vote: None

Points of Contact:

Your local State Representative and Senator can be found by visiting: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Analysis

House Study Bill 138 was an attempt by Governor Branstad to force reform of numerous licensure boards and requirements. However, the bill never made it past a legislative study committee and was essentially dead on arrive. Legislators spoke of hearing from thousands of licensed professionals who opposed the bill, but did not hear from many, if any, of those that would support. This legislation would have converted dietetics practice license to registration, which would have immediately opened Iowa to all holistic practitioners.

Recommendations

We should support the reintroduction of this bill. Aside from sending the action alert, elected representatives need to hear personal “stories” about how the dietetics law limits their practice, and harms their ability to make a living. SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE(S)

April 10, 2017

Dear ______:

I was dismayed to learn that House Study Bill 138 failed earlier this year. As your constituent, I wanted this bill to pass, and I urge you to vote for and support such legislation in the future. Occupational licensure has created monopolies for select industries. In my case, nutrition, which is dominated by one modality and philosophy, which restricts my business and the choice of my clients.

Presently, only a licensed dietician or nutritionist may provide nutrition care including assessment, goal setting, counseling or advice. This law has had the unfortunate affect of giving one nutrition philosophy a monopoly over the whole practice of nutrition. No one group should have this monopoly, and no one method, practice, education, or philosophy is right for everyone. Contrary to what you may have been told, nutrition licensure does not protect the public, it protects a monopoly. No one has ever been harmed by nutritional advice, or information on how to eat and live better.

As a provider of holistic nutrition, which seeks to heal the “whole” body, and provide a comprehensive assessment, I would like to see more broad and diverse choice in nutrition providers. Nutrition is not “one size fits all” and it’s important that the practice of nutrition is open to all philosophies, not only to have gainful employment and improve the health of all citizens, but to provide maximum competition which gives maximum choice for consumers and helps to lower costs.

Competition never hurt anyone, and licensure in nutrition only exists to insulate a single provider of nutrition, at the expense of others. Support legislation to roll back the restrictive dietetics law, and create greater choice for Iowans, which will lead to greater employment, and lower costs.

Sincerely,

(Your signature here)

Chamber Name District Party County E-mail Ako Abdul-

House 35 Democrat Polk [email protected]

Samad

House Marti Anderson 36 Democrat Polk [email protected]