Colorado HB 1320 has been introduced in the state legislature as an attempt to address prostitution and human trafficking enterprises operating under the guise of massage therapy in the state. If passed, the bill will allow localities to implement local regulations for massage establishments (not individuals), and would place the list of exempt modalities within the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ (DORA) rules, rather than within the state statute as is the case now. We have worked with DORA to obtain assurances that the exemptions will be included in the rules and we will work with DORA to draft those rules, ensuring the exemptions remain. It is easier for the state to modify regulations in rules than it is to open a statute and go through the legislative process, and this procedural change allows for more flexibility in an evolving profession. The rulemaking process includes public input and DORA will work with the profession in drafting these rules.
We will keep you apprised of the status of this bill.