Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 2291

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires massage therapy licenses and reflexology certificates issued on or after January 1, 2020, to contain a photograph of the applicant and be designed and constructed in a manner that avoids unreasonable risk of alteration or duplication.
Requires massage therapy licenses and reflexology certificates issued prior to January 1, 2021 to be updated with a photograph of the license or certificate holder.

Background:

Massage Therapy Licenses.

Massage therapists are licensed to practice massage, which involves the external manipulation or pressure of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes. To be issued a massage therapy license an applicant must provide proof to the Secretary of Health (Secretary) that he or she:

successfully completed an approved massage therapy program or apprenticeship;
successfully completed an examination; and
is 18 years of age or older.

A massage therapist must clearly display his or her massage therapy license at his or her place of business or have his or her license on display wherever he or she practices.

Reflexology Certifications.

Reflexologists are certified to practice reflexology, which is a health care service limited to applying alternating pressure with thumb and finger techniques to reflexive areas of the lower extremities, feet, hands, and outer ears based on reflex maps. To be issued a reflexology certification an applicant must provide proof to the Secretary that he or she:

successfully completed an approved reflexology program;
successfully completed an examination by the secretary; and
is 18 years of age or older.

A reflexologist must clearly display his or her reflexology certification at his or her place of business or have the certification on display wherever he or she practices.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning January 1, 2020, any massage therapy license or reflexology certification issued by the Secretary must contain a photograph of the applicant. The license or certificate must be designed and constructed in a manner that, to the Secretary's satisfaction, avoids unreasonable risk of unauthorized alteration or duplication. The Secretary must adopt rules establishing the appropriate requirements and procedures to create and issue photo licenses and photo certificates to existing license and certificate holders who were licensed or certified prior to January 1, 2021.