Georgia

Georgia House Bill 141 was recently introduced in the state legislature. If passed, the bill would require that all establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by a massage therapist must post a notice (1) in the establishment’s restroom and (2) near the establishment’s entrance or in another conspicuous location, which contains specified information about human trafficking and contact information for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy has revised rules regarding advertising. Massage therapists in Georgia must now abide by the two rules listed below.

• Actively licensed massage therapists shall include their Georgia massage therapy license number on all forms of advertisement no later than October 31, 2010.
• Establishments providing massage therapy services by more than one licensed massage therapist shall include on all forms of advertisement no later than October 31, 2010, the following statement: “Georgia Licensed Massage Therapists.”

Senate Bill 364, authored by Senator Cecil Staton, would amend the Massage Therapy Practice Act. If passed, the bill would amend the licensing law in three primary ways:

1. If convicted for a sexual offense, a person's massage therapist license would be suspended.
2. The penalties for violations to the massage therapy law would increase.
3. Local jurisdictions would be required to regulate massage businesses.

> Review ABMP's letter to the board regarding the proposed rule changes.

The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will host a public hearing on September 5, 2008 at the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31217. The main feature of the proposed rule amendment is the removal of existing language regarding the Board review of continuing education providers, along with the addition of new language regarding the acceptance of continuing education providers approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).