HB167 Alabama 2016 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensure Act governs the practice of massage therapy in this state

This bill would expand the persons exempt from the chapter and would delete any reference to a temporary permit to practice massage therapy

This bill would delete antiquated language

This bill would provide compensation to board members and would change the makeup of the board

This bill would change the name of the executive secretary to executive director

This bill would list reasons for excused absences from board meetings

This bill would remove the requirements that the oath of office of board members be filed with the Governor and that the Governor issue certificates of appointment to board members

This bill would increase the minimum hours of supervised course instruction for licensure

This bill would require that an applicant for licensure be 18 years of age with a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and be subject to a criminal history background information check and would remove the requirement that an applicant be a United States citizen

This bill would delete a limit on the number of times a retest may be given for an applicant who fails to pass the board examination. This bill would delete the requirement that a record of each board exam be filed with the board office and available for inspection for two years

This bill would authorize the board to assess and collect certain fees

This bill would increase the discretion of the board to license establishments

This bill would expand the authority of the board to revoke or suspend licenses

This bill would expand the authority of the board to revoke or suspend licenses

Under existing law, a violation of the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensure Act is a Class C misdemeanor

This bill would increase the penalty for a violation to a Class A misdemeanor

This bill would also repeal Section 34-43-10, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the examination of massage therapists

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensure Act; to amend Sections 34-43-3, 34-43-5, 34-43-6, 34-43-7, 34-43-9, 34-43-11, 34-43-12, 34-43-14, 34-43-15, 34-43-17, 34-43-20, and 34-43-21, Code of Alabama 1975, and to repeal Section 34-43-10, Code of Alabama 1975; to delete any reference to a temporary permit to practice massage therapy; to expand the definition of therapeutic massage and extend exemptions to the act; to delete antiquated language; to provide compensation for board members; to change the name of the executive secretary to executive director; to provide an excuse for absences from board meetings; to delete requirements that the oath of office of board members be filed with the Governor and that certificates of appointments be issued; to remove a retesting limit; to increase the minimum hours of supervised course instruction for licensure; to require that applicants for licensure be 18 years old with a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and be subject to criminal history information background checks; to authorize the board to assess and collect certain fees; to increase the discretion of the board to license establishments; to expand the authority of the board to revoke or suspend licenses; to increase the penalty violating the act from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.