House Bill 5651, sponsored by Representative Paul Condino, passed the Senate Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee unanimously on Wednesday, September 24th. The bill would require massage therapists to obtain a state license to practice and create a board of massage therapy to implement the process. If passed, a state license would pre-empt local regulations; only one license would be needed.
The bill still has a couple of hurdles to overcome, including two votes by the entire Senate and a House vote of concurrence with Senate amendments, before being presented to the governor. There is no action to take at this time.
The bill establishes entry-level criteria for the profession:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Good moral character
- 18 years old
- Passage of an exam approved by the board
- Complete a minimum 500 hour supervised massage therapy program
Grandfathering--for 2 years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following:
- For at least one year before the effective date of the law, the practitioner has been a member, as a massage therapist, of a national professional association (such as ABMP); or
- Signs an affidavit that he/she practiced massage therapy for at least 10 hours a week for 10 or more years; or
- Signs an affidavit that he/she has practiced massage therapy for at least 10 hours a week for 3 years and has obtained 300 hours of formal training from an approved school; or
- Has fulfilled the education requirement (a 500 hour massage therapy program); or
- Has fulfilled the examination requirement.
Once a massage therapist becomes licensed, 6 continuing education hours per year would be required for renewal of their license.
The bill exempts practitioners who practice Feldenkrais, Trager, polarity, reflexology, reiki, shiatsu, structural integration; energy workers and movement educators; as long as they don't also practice massage therapy.
To read the entire bill, go to:
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2008-HB-5651