S-1394.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5843

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Deccio, Wood, Benton, Wojahn and Kohl

Read first time 02/17/97.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Updating terminology in chapter 18.108 RCW.

    AN ACT Relating to updating terminology in chapter 18.108 RCW; and amending RCW 18.108.005, 18.108.010, and 18.108.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 18.108.005 and 1987 c 443 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The legislature finds it necessary to license the practice of massage and massage therapy in order to protect the public health and safety.  It is the legislature's intent that only individuals who meet and maintain minimum standards of competence and conduct may provide services to the public.  This chapter shall not be construed to require or prohibit individual or group policies or contracts of an insurance carrier, health care service contractor, or health maintenance organization from providing benefits or coverage for services and supplies provided by a person ((registered or certified)) licensed under this chapter.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 18.108.010 and 1991 c 3 s 252 are each amended to read as follows:

    In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following meanings shall apply:

    (1) "Board" means the Washington state board of massage.

    (2) "Massage" and "massage therapy" mean a health care service involving the external manipulation or pressure of soft tissue for therapeutic or educational purposes.  Massage therapy may include((s massage)), but is not limited to, techniques such as ((methods of effleurage, petrissage, tapotement,)) tapping, compressions, ((vibration,)) friction, ((nerve stokes, and)) Swedish gymnastics or movements ((either by manual means, as they relate to massage)), gliding, kneading, shaking, and facial or connective tissue stretching, with or without the aids of superficial heat, cold, water, lubricants, or salts.  Massage therapy does not include diagnosis or attempts to adjust or manipulate any articulations of the body or spine or mobilization of these articulations by the use of a thrusting force, nor does it include genital manipulation.

    (3) "Massage practitioner" means an individual licensed under this chapter.

    (4) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.

    (5) Massage business means the operation of a business where massages are given.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 18.108.030 and 1995 c 198 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) No person may practice or represent himself or herself as a massage practitioner without first applying for and receiving from the department a license to practice.

    (2) A person represents himself or herself as a massage practitioner when the person adopts or uses any title or any description of services that incorporates one or more of the following terms or designations:  Massage, massage practitioner, massage therapist, massage therapy, therapeutic massage, massage technician, massage technology, massagist, masseur, masseuse, myotherapist or myotherapy, touch therapist, reflexologist, acupressurist, body therapy or body therapist, bodywork or bodyworker, or any derivation of ((those)) terms that implies a ((massage)) technique or method.

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