House Bill 357 - Massage and Bodywork Summary

• Expands Board of Massage and Bodywork powers to adopt rules on advertising, unprofessional conduct, and requires certified massage technicians to provide clients with a disclosure form stating they are not licensed therapists.

• Requires criminal background checks for applicants and current licensees; allows Board to consider applicants' professional disciplinary history and criminal records when determining licensure eligibility.

• Adds unprofessional conduct as grounds for discipline and authorizes Board to impose monetary penalties up to $500 per violation; mandates permanent license revocation for anyone convicted of a felony sexual offense.

• Modifies Board composition from 2 massage therapists and 2 technicians to 4 professional members (at least 2 therapists and 1 technician) and 3 public members; adjusts voting requirements to require 4 affirmative votes for licensure and discipline decisions.

• Updates education requirements effective September 1, 2014: massage therapists must complete 25 hours of ethics, law and contraindications (previously not specified); massage technicians reduced from 100 to 75 elective hours and required to add 25 hours of ethics, law and contraindications.