Recent News and Legislative Updates

Human Trafficking Notices Must Now Be Posted Unless You Are CAMTC-Certified

05/21/2013

Last fall we notified our California members that Senate Bill 1193, which added section 52.6 to the California Civil Code, would be requiring that massage establishments -- except those that employ only California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC)-certified therapists -- must conspicuously post written human trafficking notices.  The law is now in effect. As a result,

    SD Bill Signed into Law, Changes Will Benefit LMT’s

    04/03/2013

    As we discussed in our last legislative update, HB 1126 initially proposed to repeal South Dakota’s Massage Therapy Act. However, a compromise amendment was achieved which deleted the repeal language and instead made several improvements to the massage law, including:
    • Removing the requirement that schools must be accredited by a US Department of Education recognized accrediting agency by July 1, 2014 in order to be recognized by the Board.
    • Improving reciprocity/endorsement licensing requirements for those moving to South Dakota.

    MD Bill to Increase Entry-Level Education Requirements is Withdrawn

    04/03/2013

    Maryland House Bill 818 and Senate Bill 915, both recently introduced in the state legislature, propose to increase the number of hours that an applicant for licensure must complete in a Board-approved massage program from 500 hours to 600 hours. The bills also would add kinesiology to the content areas that must be included in those 600 hours.

    OR Bill to Regulate Massage Facilities Favorably Amended

    03/07/2013

    If passed, Senate Bill 387 would require that “massage facilities,” meaning any “facility where a person engages in the practice of massage,” obtain a massage facility permit from the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists in order to operate. This requirement would not apply to licensed massage schools or to individual massage therapists working out of their homes.

    Massage Apprenticeships Could Be Eliminated in Florida

    03/07/2013

    Under current Florida law, an applicant is qualified for licensure as a massage therapist if he or she passes an approved exam and either completes a course of study at a school approved by the Massage Therapy Board or completes an apprenticeship program that meets the Board’s standards. Under SB 1334, recently introduced in the Florida state legislature, apprenticeships would no longer serve as a qualification for licensure.

    Missouri Bill Would Make Massage Licensure Voluntary

    03/07/2013

    HB 659, recently introduced in the Missouri legislature, proposes to dramatically alter the state’s massage therapy law by stating that “nothing [within the massage therapy statute] shall require a person engaged in the practice of massage therapy to be licensed,” except that only someone who has obtained a license can call him or herself a “licensed massage therapist.” Therefore, if the bill becomes law, no massage therapist in Missouri will be required to have license in order to practice massage

    Rhode Island Will Consider Changes to the Massage Law

    03/07/2013

    Under current law, Rhode Island massage therapists are regulated directly by the Department of Health. House Bill 5714, introduced in the state legislature on February 27, 2013, would amend Rhode Island’s massage law by placing the regulation of the massage profession under a new State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners operating under the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Health.

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