AMTA Government Relations Committee
Legislative Briefing

August 2006

California

Senator Liz Figueroa introduced Senate Bill 412 on February 17, 2005 and the language has been amended since introduction.  SB 412 would provide for certification of massage practitioners and massage therapists by the Massage Therapy Organization.  SB 412 was amended and re-referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 7, 2006.  The Committee voted and passed the amended version on August 9, 2006.  The bill was read for a third time and amended on August 24, 2006.  Last action taken: SB 412 was read for a third time on August 29, 2006 and the Committee refused passage of the bill.  A motion to reconsider SB 412 on the next legislative day was offered by Assemblyman Cohn on August 29, 2006.  Motion to reconsider was granted on August 30, 2006. 

Massachusetts

The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto of SB 2258 and the bill was enacted on June 29, 2006.  The bill states that the board may issue a license to practice as a massage therapist to an applicant who satisfies the following minimum qualifications: (1) he shall have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent; (2) he is 18 years of age or older; (3) he has submitted 2 professional letters of reference, with at least 1 being from an employer or professional in the massage therapy or medical field; (4) he shall be of good moral character as determined by the discretion of the board; (5) he shall have successfully completed a course of study consisting of at least 500 classroom hours or an equivalent number of credit hours of supervised instruction at a licensed massage school; (6) he shall have not been convicted in any jurisdiction of sexually-related crime or crime involving moral turpitude for the 10 years immediately before the date of application; (7) he shall provide proof of professional liability coverage; and (8) he demonstrates such professional competence as may be required by the board’s regulations.  Last action taken: SB 2258 to regulate the massage therapy profession takes effect in 90 days.

Missouri

Senator Clemens introduced Senate Bill 756, which modifies the requirements for licensing and registration of certain professions including massage therapy.  Under the act, the Board of Therapeutic Massage may promulgate rules for granting licenses to applicants who have completed approved programs in other states consisting of less than 500 hours.  Massage businesses are barred from employing individuals to provide massage therapy unless the individuals are licensed massage therapists.  A complaint may be filed with the administrative hearing commission against individuals who practice at unlicensed businesses.  Last action taken: SB 756 was signed by Governor Blunt on June 29, 2006.   The law takes effect on August 28, 2006.   

Pennsylvania

HB 1643 was introduced on June 6, 2005.  The bill would establish the State Board of Professional Massage Therapists and provide for funds, licensure, disciplinary action and remedies to regulate massage therapists.  Several changes were recently made to HB 1643 by House legislative staff upon recommendations from the chiropractors and others.  The House Professional Licensure Committee unanimously amended HB 1643 on June 13, 2006.  The Committee announced a public hearing on HB 1643 to be held August 1, 2006.  Last action taken: A public hearing on HB 1643 was held August 1, 2006.  AMTA-PA Chapter President Nancy M. Porambo testified at the Professional Licensure Committee hearing on August 1, 2006.  For more information on the status of HB 1643, please contact the AMTA Pennsylvania Chapter or visit the Pennsylvania Chapter Website at www.amtapa.org.

South Dakota

A public hearing was held on July 24, 2006 by the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy.  The hearing was held to consider the adoption and amendment of proposed rules that provide for applications and licenses for qualified massage therapists, to set fees for licenses and other functions of the board, to provide continuing education requirements, set standards for disciplinary proceedings and set professional liability or malpractice insurance limits for massage therapists.  The reason for adopting the proposed rules is to comply with statute by licensing massage therapists in South Dakota. The board is charged with the responsibility of setting standards for massage therapists in order to protect the public.  Last action taken:  AMTA-South Dakota Chapter Board members testified at a hearing of the Interim Rules Committee on August 29, 2006.  The Interim Rules Committee voted to approve the proposed rules for massage therapy licensure on August 29, 2006.  For more information on the licensure law and application process, please visit the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy at http://www.state.sd.us/doh/Massage/index.htm. 

If you are interested in getting involved with your AMTA State Chapter or would like more information on legislative and regulatory activities in your area, please contact Amy K. Young, Government Relations Program Manager at the AMTA National Office.  Toll free (877) 905-2700 or e-mail ayoung@amtamassage.org.