Recent News and Legislative Updates

A Minor Legislative Change is Adopted in Indiana

04/02/2014

Two bills, Senate Bill 348 and House Bill 1293, failed to pass the state legislature this year. The bills would have changed the current state certification (title protection) program, to a mandatory licensing (practice act) program. The bill would have also expanded the authority of the State Board of Massage Therapy by authorizing it to establish standards for the competent practice of massage therapy, approve massage therapy school curricula consistent with accepted national standards, and establish continuing education requirements. We expect a new bill to be introduced next year.

Kansas Bill to Require State Licensing of Massage Therapists Fails Again

04/01/2014

Despite significant support from individual legislators, HB 2187 again failed to pass the Kansas Legislature. As in previous years, the bill would have set minimum training requirements, defined a scope of practice, provided an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empted local regulations. If passed, the bill would have required massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas State Board of Nursing, and would have established a Massage Therapy Advisory Committee to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act.

Deadline is July 1, 2014 for License by Grandfathering in Idaho

04/01/2014

If you have already obtained your Idaho Massage Therapist license, you can disregard this reminder.

All massage therapists in the state of Idaho must now have a State-issued massage license in order to practice.  The deadline to apply for your license by grandfathering is July 1, 2014. There is no “automatic” grandfathering – you must apply to be grandfathered in.

Click here for the license application and instructions.

CAMTC Sunset Hearing Report – March 11, 2014

03/12/2014

A sunset review is a periodic assessment of state regulatory programs to determine whether or not they should be continued by the legislature. In 2008 the state legislature provided for the creation of a private, nonprofit corporation to issue voluntary certifications to qualified massage therapists. The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) was established in February 2009. It is often compared to state regulatory agencies but it is not actually part of government.

Utah - Bills Would Exempt Reflexology and Ortho-Bionomy from Licensure

03/05/2014

Two bills have been introduced in the Utah state legislature that would create new exemptions from the massage licensing law.

House Bill 207 provides that practitioners whose practices are limited to the manipulation of the soft tissues of the hands, feet, and outer ears, including practitioners of reflexology and foot zone therapy, would not be required to have a state massage therapy license, as long as:

Minneapolis Massage Establishment License Requirement Now In Effect

03/04/2014

The proposed Minneapolis city ordinance requiring that all massage and bodywork establishments within the City of Minneapolis must have a City massage establishment license was adopted, and is now in effect.

As a result, all massage and bodywork establishments in Minneapolis must have a city license by July 1, 2014. 

Click here to read the ordinance.

Update: Alaska Massage Therapy Licensing Bill Introduced

03/04/2014

The February 17-19, 2014 meetings with legislators at the State Capitol in Juneau were positive, and a massage therapy licensing bill, HB 328, has now been introduced in the Alaska state legislature.  Its sponsors are Representatives Nageak, Tuck, and Muňoz.  Click here to read the full text of HB 328.  We will continue to keep you updated on the bill’s progress.

 

Pages