SF1310 Summary: Minnesota Massage and Bodywork Therapy Act

• Establishes state registration system for massage and bodywork therapists under the Minnesota Board of Nursing, effective August 1, 2016, with protected title "Registered Massage and Bodywork Therapist" (RMBT) effective July 1, 2017.

• Requires applicants to meet education standards (postsecondary coursework including anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology), obtain CPR/first aid certification, carry $1,000,000 professional liability insurance, pass a competency exam, and submit to criminal background check.

• Allows three registration pathways: standard registration, endorsement from other states with equivalent credentials, and grandfathering for applicants with 500+ hours of training, prior competency exam passage, two years recent practice experience, or two years professional organization membership.

• Creates five-member Registered Massage and Bodywork Therapist Advisory Council (two public members and three practicing therapists) to advise the Board of Nursing on standards, enforcement, and applicant recommendations.

• Establishes registration fees (initial $285, annual renewal $185) and preempts municipal licensing of registered therapists while allowing municipalities to license massage businesses, enforce health codes, and conduct background checks on unregistered therapists.