HB310 Summary

• Eliminates the requirement that massage therapy schools located in Alabama be accredited by the State Department of Education and instead requires board approval based on minimum standards.

• Increases minimum supervised instruction hours for massage therapist licensure from 500 to 650 hours, effective January 1, 1998, with specific requirements for anatomy, physiology, massage techniques, and electives.

• Removes U.S. citizenship requirement for applicants while adding age 18 minimum and high school diploma requirement, plus mandatory criminal history background checks.

• Increases penalties for violations from Class C to Class A misdemeanor and increases various licensing fees (initial therapist license from $100 to $200, renewal from $100 to $300, and establishment fees from $100 to $200 initial and $50 to $300 renewal).

• Eliminates Senate confirmation requirement for board appointees, removes temporary permit provisions, changes executive secretary title to executive director, and provides board members with per diem compensation of $100 per day.