08/23/2017
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The Wisconsin state legislature is considering bills that could impact the regulation of massage therapy in the state. Assembly Bill 369 and companion bill Senate Bill 288 propose to create an Occupational Review Council which would be required to study the status of all licensed professions in the state and determine whether they should be deregulated. Specifically, this council would be required to submit a report by December 31, 2018 to the governor and the legislature that includes the council's recommendations for the elimination of occupational licenses in Wisconsin, or the modification of laws and rules governing occupational licenses, and the reduction or elimination of education requirements, including continuing education. The council's recommendations for the elimination of occupational licenses would be required to take into account a number of considerations, including any statement or analysis provided by the agency or board administering an occupational license, and an evaluation of whether the unregulated practice of the profession can clearly harm or endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public. While a fair study and evaluation of professional licensure in the state is not in and of itself objectionable, ABMP opposes any efforts to make massage therapy an unlicensed profession in Wisconsin. If the bills pass and the review is commenced, ABMP will provide input during the review process to educate the state as to why massage therapy must remain a licensed profession. Assembly Bill 370 and companion bill Senate Bill 296 propose to create a voluntary state certification registry which would allow professionals to voluntarily register with the state and thus call themselves "state-certified" if they belong to certain organizations. This proposal appears to anticipate the deregulation of professions by creating a new substitute system of voluntary certification. If you would like to appear in person at the state legislature to have your opinions on these bills heard, you are welcome to attend the hearing scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday Aug 24, 2017 at 10 am, location: State Capitol, Room 411-S, 2 E Main Street, Madison, WI 53703 Click here for the notice of hearing. You can also contact your state legislators' offices to voice your opinion directly. You can locate the telephone number for your state legislators' offices here. You can contact Governor Walker here.
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