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ABMP Legislative Report
Ohio 9/2/04 10/29/03 8/26/03 7/18/03 4/24/03 2/12/01 9/2/04: Educational requirements in Ohio to increase. "Effective December 31, 2005, in order to qualify to receive a certificate of good standing for a course of instruction in massage therapy, a school's course of instruction shall consist of a minimum of seven hundred and fifty clock hours covering a period of not less than nine months." Students who begin massage school on or after January 1, 2006 will be required to complete a minimum of 750 hours of massage education to qualify for a Massage Therapist License. 10/29/03: The Massage Therapy Advisory Committee of the Ohio State Medical Board (OSMB) is recommending an increase in education hours, from 600 to 750. This is based on poor test results, and has been suggested by the Medical Board. ABMP continues to monitor the proceedings. 8/26/03: Included in the budget bill recently passed by the Ohio legislature was a provision that requires massage therapists to collect sales tax on their services. This appears to be a maneuver to help offset state budget deficits. Effective August 1, 2003, massage therapists are now required to collect sales tax on services provided that are not referred by a physician. Answers to frequently asked questions and information on obtaining your vendor's license can be found at www5.state.oh.us/med/FAQ/mtctqssalestax.htm Click here to view a letter from Bob Benson, ABMP President to Governor Taft. 7/18/03: New Sales Tax for Massage Services Delayed Until August 1st. In the final hours of the conference committee's deliberations over HB 95, the Biennial Budget Bill, the language regarding the expansion of the sales tax base for personal services was amended. While the earlier language would have exempted all massages performed by massage therapists, the language as accepted by the legislature and signed into law exempted only massages performed by or on the order of a physician or chiropractor. The relevant section of the code follows: "As used in this division, "personal care service" includes skin care, the application of cosmetics, manicuring, pedicuring, hair removal, tattooing, body piercing, tanning, massage, and other similar services. "Personal care service" does not include a service provided by or on the order of a licensed physician or licensed chiropractor, or the cutting, coloring, or styling of an individual's hair." source: www5.state.oh.us/med/MTACalert1.htm found on July 15,2003 The State Medical Board of Ohio Massage Therapy Subweb. 4/24/03: The Massage Therapy Advisory Committee of the Ohio State Medical Board (OSMB) is recommending an increase in education hours, from 600 to 750. This is based on poor test results, and has been suggested by the Medical Board. ABMP continues to monitor the proceedings. 2/12/01: The State Medical Board of Ohio has proposed amended rule 4731-1-02(C) provides "The code of ethics and standards of practice of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) will apply to all persons holding a valid certificate to practice massage therapy." ABMP has encouraged the board to draft a unique code of ethics and standards of practice in an effort to remain unbiased toward any association. The Board has not taken action to date but plans to discuss later this month. |