FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5299

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 443 L 87

BYSenate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Warnke, Lee, Vognild, Smitherman, Anderson and Kiskaddon)

Revising laws relating to massage therapy.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committe on Health Care

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1975 the Massage Act was enacted and created the licensing of massage therapists by the Department of Licensing and established the State Massage Examining Board.  The current law requires that applicants for massage operator licenses pass a written examination and/or a practical demonstration.  The only prerequisites to take the examination are that applicants are over eighteen years old and show that they are of good moral character and in good health.

Most health care practitioners are required to graduate from an accredited school or program as a qualification before taking their licensing examination. 

SUMMARY:

The licensing requirement of graduation from an accredited school for massage therapists or apprenticeship program is added as a prerequisite to take the massage practitioner examination.  The scope of practice of massage therapists is updated and clarified.  The requirement for a state business license is removed.

Insurance coverage for services by massage practitioners is neither required nor prohibited by this law.

A fourth massage practitioner is added to the State Massage Examining Board, which is renamed the Washington State Board of Massage.  Qualifications for the consumer member are added that disallow state employees and present or former members of any licensing board.

The effective date for meeting eligibility requirements is June 1, 1988.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    44     1

      House 90   0 (House amended)

      Senate    43     1 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987

            June 1, 1988 (Section 12)

Partial Veto Summary:  Language that eliminates the ability of cities and counties to license and regulate massage businesses is vetoed.  (See VETO MESSAGE)