SB 500 gives me the opportunity to, once again, go over the three main types of professional regulation in the state. (The crowd goes wild!)
The three primary types of regulation are registration, certification, and licensure. Registration lets pretty much anyone perform the activity, as long as they sign up with the proper authorities. Certification doesn’t prohibit anyone from performing the activity, but prohibits you from calling yourself a certified practitioner of whatever it is unless you’ve met the criteria for certification. And, licensure prevents a person from performing a particular activity unless they’ve received a license.
SB 500 moves massage therapists from a certification regime into a licensure regime. At the same time, it preempts local government from establishing its own licensing requirements on massage therapists. Massage therapists that are currently certified would automatically become licensed under the bill.
I assume money has to change hands for this to this to have any effect?
Do I need a license to give my wife a massage? I assume not?
If not, then do I need a license to give my wife legal advice, or to perform surgery on her? If so, why?
Would this criminalize (“make a deceptive act of”) unlicensed backrubs?
Please, assembly members, keep in mind- if backrubs are outlawed, only outlaws will get backrubs!
I assume the intent is not to restrict amateur, non-lucrative massages; but a very quick read of the legislation doesn’t seem to capture that intent. The proposed legislation just says its unlawful to engage in the practice of massage therapy (technically it says “message therapy” – but that’s a typo, I’m sure) without a license.
Under the existing statute, “massage therapy” is defined as, “he application of massage techniques on the human body.”
Does this rub anyone else the wrong way?
[sorry – just wanted to get that out of the way…]