NY A04444

Enters New York into the Interstate Massage Compact, allowing licensed massage therapists to practice across all member states through a single multistate license without obtaining separate state licenses

Requires multistate license applicants to complete at least 625 clock hours of massage therapy education, pass a national licensing examination, and submit to a federal background check

Disqualifies applicants from multistate licensure for felony convictions within 5 years, practice-related misdemeanors within 2 years, or any conviction related to kidnapping, human trafficking, human smuggling, or sexual assault

Establishes the Interstate Massage Compact Commission as a joint government agency to administer the compact, maintain a data system for tracking licensees and adverse actions, and promulgate binding rules

The compact becomes effective when enacted by seven states and allows member states to withdraw with 180 days notice while retaining authority to enforce their own scope of practice laws