AMTA Legislative Briefing

May 2007

Alabama

House Bill 232 was introduced by Representative Hall to provide for the continuance of the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy until October 1, 2008.  HB 232 was read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Boards and Commissions on March 8, 2007.  HB 232 was amended and substituted on March 21, 2007.  HB 232 was read for the second time and placed on the calendar on March 22, 2007.  HB 232 passed on third reading.  HB 232 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability on April 5, 2007.  HB 232 was engrossed on April 5, 2007.  A fiscal impact note was prepared for HB 232 on April 11, 2007.  HB 232 was enrolled in the House on May 8, 2007.  Last action taken: HB 232 was signed by Governor Riley on May 10, 2007.

California

Senate Bill 731 was introduced by Senator Oropeza on February 23, 2007.  SB 731 would, commencing July 1, 2008, provide for the certification of massage practitioners and massage therapists by the Massage Therapy Organization, which would be a nonprofit organization that meets specified requirements, and would impose certain duties on the organization. The bill would require applicants for certification as massage practitioners or massage therapists to be 18 years of age or older, to meet specified educational criteria, to provide to the organization and update certain information, to provide fingerprints for submission to the Department of Justice for a criminal background check, and to pay fees required by the organization.  SB 731 was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules for assignment on February 23, 2007.  On March 21, 2007, a hearing on SB 731 was scheduled in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for April 9, 2007.  SB 731 was amended in the Senate and re-referred to the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee on April 16, 2007.  SB 731 was amended and re-referred to the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development on April 19, 2007.  SB 731 was amended and re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety on April 26, 2007.  SB 731 was amended and substituted on May 8, 2007.  To view the bill, please visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0701-0750/sb_731_bill_20070508_amended_sen_v95.pdf.  The Committee on Appropriations recommended SB 731 be placed on second reading on May 15, 2007.  Last action taken: SB 731 was read for a second time and placed on third reading on May 16, 2007.

Connecticut

Senate Bill 140 was introduced on January 10, 2007 by Senator Duff.  The bill amends chapter 384a of general statutes to clarify prohibitions on use of the title “massage therapist” and establishes guidelines for massage therapy advertising.  SB 140 was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health on January 10, 2007.  There was a change in committee reference for SB 140.  The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on General Law on January 22, 2007.  The General Law Committee amended and substituted SB 140 on March 2, 2007.  The General Law Committee issued a joint favorable report on SB 140 March 6, 2007.  The General Law Committee recommended passage of SB 140 on March 15, 2007.  SB 140 was placed on the Senate calendar on March 15, 2007.  A fiscal note for SB 140 was prepared on April 26, 2007.  The Senate amended and passed SB 140 on May 2, 2007.  A committee report and fiscal note were prepared for SB 140 on May 5, 2007.  SB 140 was enrolled on May 15, 2007.  Last action taken: SB 140 was signed by the Governor on May 22, 2007.  To view the law, please visit http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/PA/2007PA-00035-R00SB-00140-PA.htm. 

Florida

Senate Bill 1124 was filed on February 7, 2007.  SB 1124 is an act relating to home and community-based services for persons with developmental disabilities; amending s. 393.0661, F.S.; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration, in consultation with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, to seek federal approval and implement a four-tiered waiver system for the purpose of serving clients with developmental disabilities; providing requirements and limitations with respect to each tier; authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to adopt rules; requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to seek federal waivers and amend contracts in order to implement the waiver system; providing requirements for changes to various services; deleting authorization for the Agency for Health Care Administration to adopt certain emergency rules; providing an effective date.  SB 1124 was engrossed on May 3, 2007.  Last action taken: SB 1124 was approved by the Governor on May 24, 2007.  To view the law, please visit http://election.dos.state.fl.us/laws/07laws/ch_2007-064.pdf. 

Indiana

Senator Miller introduced SB 320 on January 11, 2007.  SB 320 establishes the state board of massage therapy to certify massage therapists.  The bill specifies certification requirements and establishes guidelines for the certification by endorsement of a massage therapist who holds a certification or license in another state or country.  SB 320 also establishes penalties for the unauthorized use of the title massage therapist.  SB 320 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services on January 11, 2007.  Senator Delph was added as a co-author of SB 320 on January 23, 2007.  A hearing on SB 320 was scheduled for February 21, 2007 in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee.  The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee amended and recommended passage of SB 320 on February 21, 2007.  Senator Errington was added as co-author on February 22, 2007.  Sen. Miller’s amendment to SB 320 passed the Senate on February 26, 2007.  A fiscal impact statement was prepared for SB 320 on February 27, 2007.  SB 320 was referred to the House Committee on Public Health.  A hearing was scheduled for March 26, 2007.  The House Committee on Public Health amended and recommended passage of SB 320 on March 29, 2007.  SB 320 was amended and on its second reading in the House on April 2, 2007.  SB 320 was on its third reading and passed the House on April 3, 2007.  SB 320 was engrossed in the House on April 3, 2007.  A fiscal note was issued on April 3, 2007.  The House returned SB 320 to the Senate for Conference Committee deliberations on April 4, 2007.  The House and Senate appointed members to the Conference Committee.  The Conference Committee report on SB 320 was adopted in the House and Senate on April 28, 2007.  SB 320 was signed by the Speaker of the House on April 29, 2007.  SB 320 was signed by the Senate President on April 30, 2007 and sent to the Governor.  To view the bill, please visit http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/ES/ES0320.3.html.  Last action taken: Governor Daniels signed SB 320 into law on May 9, 2007.

Massachusetts

Senate Bill 2258 passed both chambers in the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 29, 2006 to become Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2006.  For updates on the law, please visit the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy website at http://www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/mt/index.htm.   

New York

Assembly Bill 7959 was introduced by Assemblyman Cahill.  A7959 amends the education law, in relation to the abolition of citizenship requirements for licensure in certain professions, including massage therapy.  A7959 was referred to the Committee on Higher Education on May 2, 2007.  Last action taken: A committee report was issued on A7959 on May 4, 2007. 

Assembly Bill 8562 was introduced on May 18, 2007 by Assemblyman Bing.  A8562 prohibits limitations in health insurance contracts or policies with respect to massage therapy performed by a licensed massage therapist.  To view the bill, please visit http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08562&sh=t.  A8562 was referred to the Committee on Insurance on May 18, 2007.  Last action taken: A committee report on A8562 was released on May 22, 2007. 

Oregon

Senate Bill 170 was introduced on January 8, 2007.  The bill relates to the state board of massage therapy.  SB 170 was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on January 11, 2007.  A public hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee was scheduled on April 4, 2007.  A Senate work session on SB 170 was held on April 18, 2007.  The Senate Health and Human Services amended SB 170 and recommended of the amended bill on April 30, 2007.  SB 170 was engrossed in the Senate on May 1, 2007.  To view the bill, please visit http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0100.dir/sb0170.a.pdf.  Last action taken: A motion to re-refer SB 170 to the Health and Human Services Committee was carried on May 9, 2007.

Texas

House Bill 2644 was introduced on March 6, 2007 by Representative Rose.  HB 2644 relates to the requirements for a massage therapist license.  The bill increases the education requirement to a minimum of 500 hours in a supervised course of instruction provided by a massage therapy instructor at massage school, licensed massage school, a state-approved educational institution, or any combination of instructors or schools.  HB 2644 was referred to the House Public Health Committee on March 13, 2007.  A fiscal note was issued on April 9, 2007 which shows no significant fiscal implication to the state to be anticipated with enactment of HB 2644.  A public hearing was scheduled for April 11, 2007 in the House Public Health Committee.  HB 2644 was left pending in the Public Health Committee on April 11, 2007.  HB 2644 was reported favorably without amendments out of the Public Health Committee on April 19, 2007.  The Public Health Committee report on HB 2644 was printed and distributed on April 28, 2007.  HB 2644 passed the House on May 11, 2007.  HB 2644 was engrossed on May 13, 2007 and received in the Senate on May 14, 2007.  HB 2644 was amended and passed the Senate on May 22, 2007.  Last action taken: HB 2644 was signed in the House and Senate on May 28, 2007.  To view the enrolled bill, please visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02644F.pdf. 

Washington

Senate Bill 5930 was introduced on February 7, 2007 and referred to the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.  SB 5930 provides high quality, affordable health care to Washingtonians based on the recommendations of the blue ribbon commission on health care costs and access.  An amended version of SB 5930 passed the Senate on March 9, 2007.  SB 5930 was referred to the House Committee on Health Care and Wellness on March 12, 2007.  A hearing was held on March 19, 2007.  The Health Care and Wellness Committee recommended passage of SB 5930 on March 28, 2007.  SB 5930 was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations on March 29, 2007.  On March 31, 2007, the House Committee on Appropriations amended SB 5930 and recommended passage of the bill without the amendment added by the House Committee on Health Care and Wellness.  SB 5930 was referred to the House Rules Committee on April 2, 2007.  SB 5930 was placed on second reading by the Rules Committee on April 4, 2007.  A fiscal impact note was prepared for SB 5930 on April 11, 2007.  SB 5930 passed the House on April 12, 2007.  The Senate refused to concur with House amendments and asked the House to recede from amendments on April 16, 2007.  A House-Senate conference committee for SB 5930 was appointed on April 19, 2007.  SB 5930 passed the Senate and was signed by the Senate President on April 21, 2007.  The House Speaker signed SB 5930 on April 22, 2007.  SB 5930 was delivered to the Governor on April 22, 2007.  SB 5930 was adopted on May 2, 2007.  Last action taken: The Governor partially vetoed SB 5930 on May 2, 2007.  To view the law, please visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5930-S2.SL.pdf. 

House Bill 1397 was introduced by Representatives Campbell, Kenney, Curtis, Cody and Upthegrove on January 18, 2007.  HB 1397 revises the definition of massage therapy to include manipulation or pressure inside the mouth or oral cavity.  HB 1397 was read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on January 18, 2007.  The Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research prepared a bill analysis of HB 1397 for the Health Care & Wellness Committee on February 13, 2007.  HB 1397 was amended and substituted on February 15, 2007.  A fiscal note was prepared for HB 1397 on February 27, 2007.  First substitute on HB 1397 was substituted on March 7, 2007.  HB 1397 was read in the Senate and referred to the Health and Long-Term Care Committee on March 8, 2007.  A hearing on HB 1397 was scheduled for March 22, 2007 in the Senate Committee on Health and Long-Term Care.  Executive action was taken by the Senate Committee on Health and Long-Term Care on March 26, 2007.  The Senate Committee on Health and Long-Term Care recommended passage of HB 1397.  The bill was referred to the Rules Committee on March 27, 2007.  HB 1397 was placed on second reading by the Rules Committee on April 12, 2007.  Rules were suspended and HB 1397 was on third reading on April 13, 2007.  The bill passed the Senate on April 13, 2007.  The Speaker of the House signed HB 1397 on April 18, 2007.  The Senate President signed HB 1397 on April 19, 2007.  HB 1397 was delivered to the Governor on April 20, 2007.  Last action taken: HB 1397 was signed by Governor Gregoire on May 2, 2007.  To view the law, please visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/1397-S.SL.pdf. 

Wisconsin

Senate Bill 174 was introduced by Senator Vinehout on May 3, 2007.  Under current law, the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board (EAB) is required to protect the general public by inspecting and approving private trade, correspondence, business, and technical schools, changes of ownership or control of those schools, teaching locations used by those schools, and courses of instruction offered by those schools and by regulating the soliciting of students for courses and courses of instruction offered by those schools.  SB 174 moves the powers and duties of the EAB from a chapter of the statutes relating to the technical college system to its own newly created chapter, reorganizes those powers and duties, and makes various substantive changes with respect to those powers and duties. The bill specifies that the purposes of the EAB are to protect the general public and to support quality educational options and requires the EAB to accomplish those purposes.  SB 174 was referred to the Senate Committee on Education on May 3, 2007.  To view the bill, please visit http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2007/data/SB-174.pdf.  Last action taken: A fiscal note was prepared for SB 174 on May 14, 2007. 

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. Owens, Government Relations Program Manager at the AMTA National Office.  Toll free (877) 905-2700 or e-mail aowens@amtamassage.org.