HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1911

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to local government regulation of state licensed massage practitioners.

Brief Description:  Defining city and county licensing procedures for state licensed massage practitioners.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Wynne, Anderson, Ferguson, Basich, Cooper, Belcher, Fraser, Zellinsky, Prince and Nelson).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, March 1, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 20, 1991, 97-0;

Passed Legislature, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1911 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Minority Member; Mitchell, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Edmondson; Franklin; Nealey; Nelson; Rayburn; Roland; Wynne; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Horn.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:

State Licensing Requirements to Practice Massage

No person may practice massage or represent himself or herself as a massage practitioner without a license issued by the State Department of Health.  In order to qualify for a license, a person must successfully complete an approved massage program or approved apprenticeship program; pass an examination administered or approved by the State Board of Massage; and be at least 18 years old.  The examination consists of a written and practical examination.

Massage practitioners are subject to examination fees, license fees, and license renewal fees by the Department of Health.  Licenses are valid for one year.  Persons licensed as massage practitioners are subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act for Health Professionals.

The Washington State Board of Massage is responsible for adopting rules to establish standards and procedures for approving courses of study; approving schools and programs; reviewing approved schools and programs periodically; preparing, grading, administering and supervising examinations for applicants for licensure; and determining which states have educational and licensing requirements equivalent to Washington State.

Local Licensing Requirements to Practice Massage

The license and fee requirements imposed by the state on massage practitioners are not exclusive.  Local governments are authorized to require registrations or licenses, and charge fees for these purposes, to regulate the practice of massage.  Concerns have been expressed that the licensing and registration requirements imposed by some local governments on massage practitioners, and the fees associated with these requirements, are excessive when compared to other health care professionals.

State and local law enforcement personnel are also authorized to inspect a massage practitioner's premises at any time including business hours.

Summary of Bill:  A person seeking a license from a city or county to operate a massage business must verify that he or she is validly licensed as a massage practitioner by the state.

A city or county may not subject a state licensed massage practitioner to additional licensing requirements that are not imposed on other similar health care providers, such as physical therapists or occupational therapists.

A city or county may not charge a state licensed massage practitioner a licensing or operation fee that exceeds licensing or operation fees imposed on similar health care providers, such as physical therapists or occupational therapists operating in the same city or county.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Massage practitioners are licensed by the state and are professionals.  It is very difficult to establish a practice because of burdensome local requirements.  Local governments don't impose these requirements on similar health practitioners.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Clark Sitzes, Lee Newsbalum, and Gloria Layton, American Massage Therapy Association; Rick Wickman, Washington Association of Counties; and Stan Finklestein, Association of Washington Cities.