05/19/2009
HB 2059 is currently moving through the Oregon State Legislature. The bill amends and creates new provisions for health regulatory boards, including the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy (OBMT). This seemingly innocuous bill turned much less so on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, when the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) proposed an amendment that would require the OBMT to accept their national certification exams. The amendment (HB 2059-A7) reads as follows:
“The board shall accept passage of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork examination of another board-approved national standardized examination as meeting the written examination requirement contained in this paragraph.”ABMP urges schools to contact members of the Senate Committee on Health Care and Veterans Affairs immediately and encourage them to vote “no” on HB 2059-A7. When speaking with legislators keep your comments short and to the point. It is best to call or email the committee members.
I am (name) calling from (name of the school) in (city). I am calling to ask Senator ______ to vote on a proposed amendment to HB 2059. The amendment is “dash 7” and would require the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy (OBMT) to accept a certification exam offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. We support the current language in the law that allows the OBMT to decide on acceptable exam(s). The OBMT currently accepts the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). The OBMT has direct oversight of this exam both administratively and in content. We are satisfied with the OBMT decision to accept this exam. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (phone number).Attached is a statement by ABMP that was sent to the committee last week urging the committee to vote no. Members of the Senate Committee on Health Care and Veterans Affairs Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725 Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us Senator Jeff Kruse Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701 Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us Senator Alan C Bates Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703 Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us Senator Bill Morrisette Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706 Email: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us Senator Frank Morse Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708 Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us Contact: Jean Robinson, Government Relations Director (jean@abmp.com) Jennifer Argenbright, School Liaison (Jennifer@abmp.com)
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