What's happening
This bill expands the definition of massage therapy to include related services and requires a licensed massage therapist to be on premises during business hours.
Why it matters
Expands legal oversight to related services. By specifically naming practices like table showers, hot towel massages, shiatsu/deep tissue, oil massages, body slides, and body rubs as massage therapy, the bill brings a broader range of bodywork services under professional regulation, aiming to close loopholes that have allowed unlicensed or unregulated practices to operate.
Raises professional standards and accountability. Requiring a licensed massage therapist to be on premises at all times during business hours increases direct oversight of staff and services, which can help ensure that only qualified professionals perform any physical touching of customers, enhancing consumer safety and trust.
Targets illicit activity and improves public perception. By clarifying which activities are considered massage therapy and demanding licensure for all such services, the bill seeks to combat the misuse of massage establishments for illegal purposes (such as unlicensed activity or illicit businesses), potentially improving the reputation of legitimate practitioners and the industry overall.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Massage Therapy Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2839
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. M. G. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding the definition of massage therapy to include other related services and requiring the licensee of a massage therapy location be on the premises at all times during business hours
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 7802 of the education law, as amended by chapter 230 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
§ 7802. Practice of massage therapy and use of title "masseur", "masseuse" or "massage therapist" or the term "massage" or "massage therapy". 1. Only a person licensed or authorized pursuant to this chapter shall practice massage therapy and only a person licensed under this article shall use the title "masseur", "masseuse" or "massage therapist". No person, firm, partnership or corporation claiming to be engaged in the practice of massage or massage therapy shall in any manner describe, advertise, or place any advertisement for services as defined in section seventy-eight hundred one of this article unless such services are performed by a person licensed or authorized pursuant to this chapter.
2. The licensee of a massage therapy location shall be on the premises at all times during business hours and only a person licensed or authorized to practice massage therapy, body massage or massage pursuant to this chapter shall conduct any form of physical touching of customers.
§ 2. Section 7801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 230 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
§ 7801. Definition of practice of massage therapy. The practice of the profession of massage therapy is defined as engaging in applying a scientific system of activity to the muscular structure of the human body by means of stroking, kneading, tapping and vibrating with the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03109-01-7
A. 2839 2
hands or vibrators for the purpose of improving muscle tone and circulation. For the purposes of this article the following practices shall constitute the practice of massage or massage therapy and may only be performed by a person licensed pursuant to this chapter: table shower, hot towel massage, shiatsu/deep tissue massage, oil massage, body slide and body rub.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.