Criminal Penalties for Washington Massage and Reflexology Business Owners Who Allow Unlicensed Practice

Washington HB 1252, discussed in our last Washington legislative update, has been signed into law. Under the version of the bill that was passed, massage and reflexology business owners are now subject to criminal penalties for allowing unlicensed practice in their businesses. The law states that any person who, “with knowledge or criminal negligence,” allows the unlicensed practice of massage or reflexology in his or her massage or reflexology business is guilty of a misdemeanor for the first violation, and a gross misdemeanor for subsequent violations.