The N. C Board of Dietetics/Nutrition: A failure of this legislative session | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The N. C. General Assembly is likely to adjourn soon, perhaps as early as next week. But as best we can determine the N. C. Board of Dietetics/Nutrition will continue to operate. While the legislative leadership is most likely going to brag about "reorganizing" state boards and commissions as one of its accomplishments, it will have no reason to brag as long as this board continues.

    If you use the "site search" function on this page to search for "dietetics" you will find several articles that explain the follies that this state agency has committed in recent months. Even though they have lost in court they continue to parade as a legitimate government agency. They are not.

    The reason they are not is simply because they perform a function that is not a legitimate government function. They seek to regulate advice, or to put it more precisely they seek to infringe on Free Speech.

    In reality, this board, and any other "occupational licensing" boards and commissions are actually nothing more than a way to protect special interests from competition in the market place. They argue they protect the public but in fact they actually simply protect their own self-interest - making money easier.

    The General Assembly has been negligent in not correcting this particular situation and its review of state government operations remains insufficient. And more than that, their failure to provide for procedures that prevent abuse of power by those agencies that do have legitimate reason to exist leaves a task yet to be done, but one that the next session should be diligent in pursing.

    There is a similar case now in Kentucky dealing with another North Carolinian who is being harassed because he writes parenting advice columns in several newspapers, including Kentucky. But he is not a licensed psychologist in Kentucky, although he is licensed in North Carolina.

    Kentucky, like North Carolina did with the Dietetics/Nutrition board, will lose this case in Federal court. But the victims of this government abuse will not be reimbursed for the harm and damages - likely totaling thousands of dollars - they have suffered. It is time the Legislature puts a stop to this abuse. Click here to read more about the Kentucky case. Note the "related articles" on the left sidebar.

    HB 676 , entitled "An Act to Eliminate the Dietetics/Nutrition Board" was introduced in the House on April 9, 2013. It has now been "Deep Sixed" by the House leadership. It sits in the House Rules Committee where it is expected to die when the Legislature adjourns.

    The omnibus state government reorganization bill is still alive in the House/Senate conference committee. It keeps the board and changes its composition somewhat.