Bill Would Circumvent CAMTC Authority and Return Licensing Ability to Local Municipalities

In 2008, an important first step toward statewide regulation was taken when California passed a voluntary certification credential for massage therapists. Once obtained, it exempts massage therapists from having to become licensed in every city in which they work. This credential is potentially now in jeopardy. Existing law prohibits a city, county, or city and county from enacting an ordinance that requires a massage therapist who is currently certified by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) to obtain any other license, permit, or other authorization to engage in the practice of massage. Now, however, Assemblyman Swanson is sponsoring AB 1822 which, if passed, will:

• Until January 1, 2016, require any person who administers massage for compensation to be certified by CAMTC or certified, registered, or licensed by a city, county, or city and county. In other words, all massage therapists would have to be licensed by either the CAMTC or their local jurisdiction.
• On and after January 1, 2016, the bill would require that all massage therapists administering massage for compensation to be licensed by a city, county, or city and county, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.
• The bill would also authorize a city, county, or city and county to require any person who administers massage or who owns a massage establishment or business to hold a business license or massage establishment permit or both.

ABMP is opposed to the bill. The purpose of SB 731, the bill passed in 2008, which authorized the formation of the CAMTC and created the voluntary certification program, was to provide relief to our members and other massage therapists who were restricted and discriminated against under local ordinances. If passed, AB 1822 would eliminate that benefit and give authority back to local municipalities. In fact, the bill takes it a step further and would mandate that all local municipalities license massage therapists. It is irresponsible to essentially repeal a law that hasn’t even been fully implemented. The formation of the CAMTC took thousands of volunteer hours and was at significant expense. The members of the CAMTC have worked to create a certification process which, while not perfect, has integrity. AB 1822 has been scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection on April 20, 2010. Members of the committee are listed and can be encouraged to vote no on AB 1822 by email or phone at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=129