There is a new bill that may change how things are being done in terms of regulating massage – AB 1822.
If AB 1822 becomes law:
- After December 31, 2015, ALL massage therapists will again have to have local permits for EACH city in which they practice.
- Until then, background checks, fingerprinting, and other vetting for state-recognized certification would no longer be done by the CAMTC, but instead by local law enforcement where you live or work.
- You will be required to pay an additional fee to local law enforcement to fund these background checks, in addition to the fee paid to the CAMTC.
- Local law enforcement will have the power to order the CAMTC not to certify someone, based on the results of their own investigations.
- Cities or counties that do not already regulate non-certified massage therapists will have to do so.
- The door will be opened for “massage parlors” to find the local jurisdiction with the easiest vetting process and start calling their employees “CMTs”.
The process is still early on and we cannot predict where it will go. However, I think it is interesting that there is such a push to make changes already. Does this mean that CAMTC has not proven to measure up to everyone’s liking? In reading the proposed changes, I do not feel this is would be a step forward for the field. Nor do I see it as a way to close the gaps they are attempting to fill in terms of massage establishments that are not operating legitimately and applicants that maybe should not be approved to practice as a CMP or CMT. Maybe with the new highly paid CEO – we can rest assured this will all be settled with the best outcomes for folks who are legitamitely practicing massage here in California before new laws get passed. I encourage you to get involved and stay informed in the coming months. Here is a link to the Legislative Council’s Digest:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1801-1850/ab_1822_bill_20100211_introduced.html
You can get involved by writing to the Business and Professions Comittee before the next hearing on April 20th. We will continue to post things as they happen. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns that we may be able to help you with.
Apparently the AB 1822 has passed the Business, Professionals and Consumer Protection Committee by an 8-3 vote on April 20.
I think more therapists need to get involved and protest.
I am a LICENSED and CERTIFIED Massage Practitioner in California. I have opened my business since August 2008 and has so far has approx. 2500 PAID CLIENTS in which I have filed my taxes and can be proven. I have also completed 288 hours of massage schooling.
My reason for this email is that I think it is totally unfair for myself that I cannot use my paid clients hours to help obtain the CMT title and has to go to school and pay for more hours to qualify. When folks who DO NOT have the 250 hours requirement is allowed to show that they have performed the 1000 or 1700 paid clients through their tax return and then they will be granted the Massage Practitioner Title. In other words, they don’t have to go to school to obtain the extra 150hrs but can piggy back on their Tax Return as proof and then they will get it! How is this fair to me?
I CAN SHOW PROOF OF MY LICENSE AND TOTAL HOURS THROUGH MY TAX RETURN DOCUMENTS, AND SHOULD BE GRANTED THAT EXTRA 150 HRS BE ADDED ON TO MY 288 HRS WHICH I ALREADY HAVE. My point is…..why does the other folks get away with not doing any schooling to obtain the extra 150hr to be Licensed and I cannot get those hours ADDED to my hours if I show proof of the thousands of clients I have performed on which is on my Tax Documents?
I would like answers to my questions please.
Sincerely,
Christine Sookoo