HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1233

BYRepresentative Braddock

Expanding eligibility for obtaining a license as a massage practitioner.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FEBRUARY 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature gave the state Board of Massage authority to establish educational or apprenticeship requirements for new applicants for licensure after June 1, 1988.  The board by rule now requires an applicant after that date to have at least 500 hours of an approved course of study or apprenticeship program.

The law also provides that persons licensed in other states may be licensed in this state if the examinations and educational requirements are substantially similar.  However, most states license the practice of massage at the local level and do not have state licensure.  This circumstance does not allow persons licensed by local jurisdictions to qualify.  In addition, most states do not require 500 hours of massage training.  Current law and these requirements effectively prohibit persons licensed in other states from practicing in Washington, regardless of experience and years of practice.

The current massage law contains two redundant sections relating to recognition of licensing by local governments, and two redundant sections relating to exemptions from licensure.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Applicants for licensure as massage therapists in this state may be licensed without examination if they hold licenses or equivalent authority in other states, territories, or local jurisdictions which have examination and educational standards substantially equivalent to those of this state. Applicants with at least five years of licensed experience in another jurisdiction are deemed to have satisfied the state educational requirements.  Applicants licensed in other jurisdictions may also be given temporary permits to practice pending the results of any state examination, and are subject to state disciplinary procedures. The director of licensing may also impose conditions on their practice. Redundant sections are repealed.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The sections waiving the educational requirements until January 1, 1990 are striken. Five years experience is substituted for the educational requirements.  An emergency clause is added.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 1, 1989.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Teresa Scharff, South Sound Massage Therapy Association; Joe Wiley, New Horizons School of Massage; Lee Nuszbaum, Washington Chapter of American Massage Therapy Association; John Salo, Jonathan Vogel, Brian Utting School of Massage; M. Maureen Rowe, Paul Rerucha, Patricia Archer, Washington Association of Massage Schools; Heida Brenneke, Brenneke School of Massage; and Priscilla Lisicich, Alexander School of Natural Therapeutics.  (Parties agreed with substitute version.)

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The 500 hour educational requirement is necessary to protect the public and the standards of the profession must be maintained.