Maryland

House bill 1563, sponsored by Delegate Hubbard, was signed into law by the governor on April 24, 2008. The bill amends current law in two main ways.

1. The law creates the State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners to replace the Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Massage Therapy Advisory Committee. There will now be eleven members appointed to the board: six chiropractors, three massage therapists, and two consumer members.
2. The regulation of two levels of massage practitioners remains. However, the “certification” level of regulation has been changed to “licensed.” A state certified massage therapist, will now be considered a state licensed massage therapist (LMT). The registered massage practitioner (RMP) level remains the same.

Additional information on the implementation of the new law will become available after a board is appointed and they begin to draft rules and regulations. There is no action to take at this time. To view the entire bill, go to: http://mlis.state.md.us/2008RS/bills/hb/hb1563f.pdf