Recent News and Legislative Updates

Michigan Licensing Update

05/05/2011

In January 2009, HB 5651 was signed into law by Governor Granholm. The law provided for the state licensing of massage therapists and authorized the creation of a state regulatory board to implement the process. Governor Granholm appointed members to serve on the Board of Massage Therapy in late June 2009 and the board has met regularly since December 2009 to discuss and develop regulations to implement the law.

CA Bill Would Make Technical Changes to Law

05/04/2011

Assembly Bill 619 seeks technical changes to the existing law. In 2008, Senate Bill 731 (Oropeza, Chapter 384) was passed and created a statewide voluntary certification program for massage professionals and a non-profit massage therapy organization to administer the program. The primary benefit of its passage was to provide massage therapists some financial relief from restrictive and discriminatory local ordinances and from having duplicative processes to practice in multiple locations.

Changes are coming that may affect your ability to practice in California!

04/26/2011

Yes, you know that voluntary certification has now been available for 21 months. And that certification, for which you pay $150, allows you to practice anywhere in California. However, according to our information, you have so far not chosen to be among the 28,000 massage therapists to apply for CAMTC certification. What you may not realize are two things:

Kansas Committee Recommends that the State License Massage Therapists

03/24/2011

As previously reported, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Kansas chapter submitted a sunrise document to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The sunrise document is an assessment and overview of the profession, focusing on whether there is a need to license massage therapists in Kansas. The KDHE Occupational Credentialing Technical Review Committee (Committee) was appointed to review the document in a series of four meetings and issued its decision today in Topeka at the final meeting.

Illinois Amendment Would Increase Entry-Level Education Requirement, Have Negative Impact on Portability, Raise Costs

03/22/2011

Illinois’ Massage Licensing Act (Act) will sunset January 2012. Senator Iris Martinez is sponsoring a bill (SB 153) on behalf of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and the Massage Licensing Board to make several technical changes in the law as well as to extend the Act to January 2022. SB 153 was introduced on February 8, 2011 and ABMP is supportive of the bill as introduced on that date.

Utah Bill Changes Definition of Massage Therapy

03/10/2011

House Bill 243, sponsored by Rep. Morley, amends several provisions of Title 58, Occupations and Professions, regarding the administration and enforcement of licensing laws and related provisions. Lines 756 – 767 specifically address a modification to the definition of massage therapy:

756 (6) "Practice of massage therapy" means: 757 (a) the examination, assessment, and evaluation of the soft tissue structures of the body 758 for the purpose of devising a treatment plan to promote homeostasis;

Nevada Board Considers Changes to Existing Regulations

02/22/2011

On February 2, 2011, the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists (NSBMT) held a workshop to solicit comments on the following topics it has included in proposed regulations: education requirements, requirements for restroom signage, changes to the existing regulation regarding unethical or unprofessional conduct, and a new requirement for a “managing therapist.”

Indiana Bill Would Change the Regulation of Massage Therapists

02/21/2011

Senate bill 500, sponsored by Sen. Landske, would change the current state certification (title protection) of massage therapists to state licensing (mandatory practice act). The bill would also prohibit local units of government from establishing or maintaining licensing requirements for massage therapists. Massage therapists would only have to obtain the state license to practice.

New Hampshire Bill Would Repeal Massage Therapy Regulation

02/17/2011

House Bill 446 FN, sponsored by Representative Spec Bowers (Phone: (603)763-2369 Email: spec.bowers@leg.state.nh.us ) of Sunapee, would repeal the professional regulation of several occupations in New Hampshire, including massage therapists, reflexologists, structural integrators, and Asian bodywork therapists. A hearing has been scheduled for February 22, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. in the House Committee of Executive Departments and Administration.

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