05/11/2017
As discussed in our earlier email to you, Delaware House Bill 35 has been introduced in the state legislature as a proposal to require massage establishment licensing in the state. The bill would require massage businesses to hold a separate massage establishment license in addition to a general business license, and in addition to individual licensure for the therapists working in the business.
ABMP is opposing the bill and we urge you to contact the key legislators before a hearing on the bill scheduled for Wednesday May 10 at 1:00 pm in the Senate Hearing Room of the State Capitol in Dover to voice your opposition as well. You may also appear at the hearing in person to speak on the record. The bill is an attempt to address illegal activities such human trafficking, but will have little impact on those activities and will only serve to burden legitimate practitioners with even more fees and licensing hurdles. We are urging the legislature to strengthen the state’s criminal code to address human trafficking, rather than attempting to address the problem through the professional massage therapy licensing statute. Click here to read ABMP’s most recent formal opposition to HB 35 setting forth the reasons why we are against this proposal.
The key legislators to contact are: Primary Sponsor: Rep. B. ShortAdditional Sponsors: Sen. McDowell, Lavelle
Co-Sponsors: Sen. Delcollo, Ennis, Poore, Richardson
Sunset Committee members Sens. Walsh, Hanson, Sokola, Pettyjohn and Richardson.
Click here for Senate contact information. Click here for House of Representatives contact information.