What's happening
This bill requires massage therapists in New York to display their licenses with a photo, name, and license number while practicing.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and consumer protection. by making it easier for clients to confirm that their massage therapist is properly licensed, reducing the risk of unlicensed or fraudulent practitioners.
Helps law enforcement and regulators. quickly identify legitimate practitioners in the event of inspections, complaints, or investigations into unlawful activity within the massage industry.
Standardizes the display format. of massage therapy licenses, requiring a visible photo, name, and license number, which can deter identity fraud and ensure that displayed credentials match the actual practitioner.
May enhance public trust in the profession. by promoting accountability and professionalism, potentially encouraging more people to seek licensed therapeutic services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Display Massage Licenses Publicly
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3097
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a licensed massage therapist to display his or her license when practicing and the required contents of such license
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". 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. A person licensed under section seventy-eight hundred four of this article shall conspicuously display such license within public view when practicing.
§ 2. Section 7804 of the education law is amended by adding a new closing paragraph to read as follows:
A license issued pursuant to this section shall at a minimum include the licensee's name, license number and a non-removable photograph of such licensee.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06986-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a licensed massage therapist to display his or her license when practicing and the required contents of such license
Purpose
To require that a license with photo be on display when a massage thera- pist licensed by the State of New York is practicing.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends section 7802 of the education law, to require that a person who is licensed by the state under this section, using the title of "masseur", "masseuse", or "massage therapist" shall conspicuously display such license when practicing.
Section 2. amends section 7804 of the education law by adding a new closing paragraph to state that a license issued pursuant to this section shall at a minimum, include the licensee's name; license number and a non-removable photograph of such license.
Section 3. Effective date.
Justification
There has been a substantial increase in the amount of illegal practices that have set up under the guise of 'massage therapy' and promoting prostitution or other illegal activities. In addition, consumers have sustained injuries as a result of treatment from unlicensed practition- ers.
Massage therapy has been practiced for centuries and is known to relieve the effects of many illnesses such as stress and pain, and is routinely used in the healing of injuries. The study of massage therapy is rigor- ous, and consumers who utilize this treatment have a right to know that their practitioner has indeed studied massage at a certified massage therapy school, and that they are licensed by the state to practice the various techniques that are utilized.
Legislative history
2018: S8192 - REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
On the sixtieth day after it has become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.