Senate Bill 548 Summary

• Increases penalties for human trafficking: raises offense from Class F to Class C felony for adult victims and from Class C to Class B2 felony for minor victims, effective December 1, 2017.

• Removes massage establishments from "adult establishment" definition and prohibits massage and bodywork therapy services in adult establishments.

• Establishes North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy regulatory authority over massage and bodywork therapy establishments, requiring licenses for owners/operators and criminal history checks, effective October 1, 2017.

• Requires massage and bodywork therapists to obtain a statewide privilege license with a $50 tax, effective July 1, 2018.

• Directs Department of Health and Human Services to study training programs for health care and emergency providers in human trafficking identification and prevention, with report due February 1, 2018.