Recent News and Legislative Updates

Kentucky

07/03/2008

Kentucky Massage Therapy Board Seeks Members One important way to become more engaged in your profession is to apply for an appointment to the massage therapy board. Five massage therapists and two public members are appointed to the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy for three-year terms; there are currently two open positions for professional massage therapists. ABMP encourages all independent massage therapists to apply for these open appointments. It is advantageous for a board to represent the diversity in the profession and hear different viewpoints.

Colorado

07/03/2008

In addition to SB 219, which requires the state registration of massage therapists, two other bills affecting massage therapists also passed the legislature and were signed into law by Governor Ritter. SB 011

Pennsylvania

06/26/2008

House Bill 2499, sponsored by Representative McCall, passed through the House of Representatives on June 24, 2008. The bill will now be heard in the Senate. HB 2499 would require a state license to practice massage therapy and establish a State Board of Massage Therapy to implement the law.

Michigan

06/24/2008

Reform Committee on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The bill would establish state licensing standards for massage therapists and create a board of massage therapy to implement the process. If passed, a state license would pre-empt local regulations; only one license would be needed. It is early in the legislative process and there is no action to take at this time. The bill establishes entry-level criteria for the profession:
  • High school graduate or equivalent
  • Good moral character
  • 18 years old
  • Passage of an exam approved by the board

Pennyslvania

06/20/2008

House bill 2499, sponsored by Representative McCall, was introduced, amended, and subsequently passed the Committee on Professional Licensure amended on June 11, 2008 and the Appropriations Committee on June 17, 2008. The bill would require a state license to practice massage therapy and establish a State Board of Massage Therapy to implement the law.

Colorado

06/04/2008

Senate Bill 219, providing for the state registration of massage therapists, was signed into law by Governor Ritter on June 2, 2008. The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2008. However, applications for state registration will not become available until April 1, 2009 at the earliest. There is no action for you to take at this time. ABMP will continue to keep members informed. The law will benefit the massage therapy community in three primary ways:
  • Minimum training requirements and scope of practice are defined.
  • An avenue for consumer complaint is established.

Pennsylvania

05/16/2008

House bill 2499, sponsored by Representative McCall, has been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and was referred to the Committee on Professional Licensure on May 13, 2008. The bill would require a state license to practice massage therapy and establish a State Board of Massage Therapy to implement the law. If passed, the bill would allow existing practitioners to qualify for a license without obtaining additional education or taking an exam. To qualify for a license under this grandfathering provision an applicant would be required to meet ONE of the following requirements:

Michigan

05/09/2008

House bill 5651, sponsored by Representative Paul Condino will have a second hearing by the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The bill would establish state licensing standards for massage therapists and create a board of massage therapy to implement the process. If passed, a state license would pre-empt local regulations, only one license would be needed. It is early in the legislative process. The bill establishes entry-level criteria for the profession:
  • High school graduate or equivalent
  • Good moral character
  • 18 years old

Maryland

05/05/2008

House bill 1563, sponsored by Delegate Hubbard, was signed into law by the governor on April 24, 2008. The bill amends current law in two main ways.
  1. The law creates the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners to replace the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Massage Therapy Advisory Committee. There will now be eleven members appointed to the board: six chiropractors, three massage therapists, and two consumer members.

Colorado

05/05/2008

SB 219 passed the Colorado legislature on Monday, May 5, and is now awaiting Governor Ritter's action. The governor has three choices: sign the bill into law, allow the bill to become law without his signature, or veto the bill. He has 30 days to decide. ABMP will continue to keep members informed.

Pages