Regulation of Massage Therapy

The act removes specific exemptions from the practice of massage therapy and clarifies that other licensed health care professionals may practice massage therapy without a massage therapist license as long as the therapy is within the health care professional's scope of practice. The act also requires a licensed massage therapist to be at least 18 years of age.

The act adds the crime of human trafficking to the list of existing offenses for which a license may be denied or revoked and includes a plea of nolo contendere or a receipt of a deferred sentence as reasons the director may deny a license or take disciplinary action against a licensee. The act also allows the director to take disciplinary action against a licensee for fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices; incompetence or untrustworthiness; or indecent exposure. The director is also permitted to fine a person who violates the massage therapy laws. The act makes it a misdemeanor for a person to aid or abet the unlicensed practice of massage therapy.

The act allows a city, county, city and county, or other political subdivision to inspect massage businesses.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)