HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1133

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care & Wellness

Title: An act relating to the display of massage practitioner licenses.

Brief Description: Requiring massage practitioners to include their license numbers on advertising and display a copy of their license or make it available upon request.

Sponsors: Representatives Jinkins, Goodman, Warnick, Rodne, Ladenburg and Maxwell.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care & Wellness: 1/26/11, 2/3/11 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires a massage practitioner's name and license number to conspicuously appear on all advertisements.

  • Requires a massage practitioner to display his or her license in his or her place of business.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Kelley, Moeller and Van De Wege.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

A massage practitioner is an individual licensed to provide massage therapy, which is a health care service involving the external manipulation or pressure of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes. Massage therapy includes techniques such as tapping, compressions, friction, Swedish gymnastics or movements, gliding, kneading, shaking, and facial or connective tissue stretching. Massage therapists are licensed by the Department of Health.

A massage therapist is required to print his or her license number in display advertisements.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

A massage practitioner's name and license number must conspicuously appear on all of the massage practitioner's advertisements. A massage practitioner must also display his or her license conspicuously in his or her principal place of business. If the practitioner does not have a principal place of business or conducts business in any other location, he or she must have a copy of his or her license available for inspection while performing any activities related to massage therapy.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill requires a practitioner to display his or her license conspicuously in his or her principal place of business.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There has been an explosion of unlicensed practice involving massage practitioners. This is a simple bill that will give consumers the tools to know whether they are dealing with a licensed practitioner and are getting a safe, legitimate, and licensed massage. The bill will resolve confusion over when a practitioner must put his her license number on advertisements and will require practitioners to display their licenses. Most practitioners already think this is the law. A lot of online practitioners who do not display their license numbers are actually engaging in criminal activity.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Jinkins, prime sponsor; and Marybeth Berney and Lavon M. Watson, American Massage Therapy Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.