ABMP Legislative Updates for Connecticut

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ABMP Legislative Report

Connecticut
6/11/07
5/28/03
4/24/03
1/28/03
2/12/01
5/12/00

6/11/07: The Governor Rell signed Senate Bill 140 into law on May 22, 2007. The bill addresses two issues related to the Massage Therapy Practice Act:

Replaces the title “Connecticut licensed massage therapist” with “massage therapist”; and

Prohibits anyone other than a licensed massage therapist or a holder of another applicable license from using the titles “massage therapist,” “licensed message therapist,” “massage practitioner,” “massagist,” “masseur,” or “masseuse. ”

The bill also prohibits advertising any of the services that comprise massage therapy in any manner using the term “massage,” unless the services are to be provided by a licensed massage therapist. It specifies that “advertising” includes: giving a card, sign, or device to anyone; causing or allowing a sign or marking on a vehicle, building, or other structure; advertising in a newspaper or magazine; and placing a listing or advertisement in a directory under a heading or classification that includes the words “massage,” “massage therapist,” “massage therapy,” or “massage therapy establishment.” It requires licensed massage therapists to include their license number in advertisements in newspapers, telephone directories, or other media.

5/28/03: House Bill 5614 has seen no activity since January. The legislative session adjorns on June 4, 2003.

4/24/03: House Bill 5614 has been referred to the Committee on Public Health. The bill is a proposal to change chapter 384a to require massage therapists to complete forty-eight (48) continuing education hours every four years in order to renew their licenses. To track the progress of the bill or to voice your position to your legislator, visit www.cga.state.ct.us or call the bill status hotline at (860) 240-0555. You can also find updates here and a sample letter.

1/28/03: House Bill 5614 has been referred to the Committee on Public Health.
The bill is a proposal to change chapter 384a to require massage therapists to complete forty-eight (48) continuing education hours every four years in order to renew their licenses. ABMP is opposed to the proposed requirement without appropriate justification. As seen in current regulations, 13 of the 31 states regulating massage do not require continuing education. Of the remaining 18 regulated states, only 6 require the level of continuing education proposed in Connecticut. The majority of regulating states require 12 hours of continuing education every two years. The regulating states that share borders with Connecticut are among the 13 states that have no continuing education requirement.

With an average cost per hour significantly more than basic massage school tuition, continuing education is a substantial investment for the typical massage therapist, especially when considering that the median client load reported by therapists is 13 hours per her week. Mandating a continuing education requirement would create an undue hardship on Connecticut therapists.

ABMP encourages you to be involved in this process. Members of the Committee on Public Health are:

Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Co-Chair
Rep. Andrew M. Fleischmann
Representative Art J. Feltman, Co-Chair
Rep. Janice R. Giegler
Sen. Melodie Peters, Vice Chair
Rep. Claire L. Janowski
Rep. David McCluskey, Vice Chair
Rep. Raymond C. Kalinowski
Sen. George L. Gunther
Rep. Jack Malone
Rep. Mary Ann Carson
Rep. Vickie Orsini Nardello
Sen. Eric D. Coleman
Rep. Linda A. Orange
Sen. Catherine W. Cook
Rep. Peter J. Panaroni
Rep. Carl J. Dickman
Rep. Kevin Ryan
Rep. Patricia A. Dillon
Rep. Peggy Sayers
Rep. Christopher G. Donovan
Rep. John Stone
Rep. Ruth C. Fahrbach
Rep. Lenny T. Winkler

To track the progress of the bill or to voice your position to your legislator, www.cga.state.ct.us or call the bill status hotline at (860)240-0555.

See a sample letter.

2/12/01: Proposed Senate Bill 322 is an act to establish additional qualifications for Connecticut licensed massage therapists. The Bill was introduced by Senator Joseph Crisco and was referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health on January 11, 2001. ABMP will continue to monitor the status of the bill.

5/12/00: ABMP has been active in working to amend the existing massage therapy regulation, with the goal of removing attendance at a COMTA-accredited school as a requirement for licensure. The result of these efforts, General Assembly Bill 5468, was amended by the Public Health Committee and has passed the House. The bill proposes amending the qualifications for obtaining a license in Connecticut, which are currently among the most restrictive state regulations for massage therapy. The version of the bill passed by the House attempts to ease the restriction on obtaining a license, but unfortunately falls somewhat short of the goal of establishing a fair regulatory playing field in the state. The bill is scheduled for review by the Senate before June 9, which is the ending day of the legislative session. ABMP is hopeful of affecting a further change when the bill is debated in the Senate. Please check back for additional information, or to check the bill's status.