H.B. 207 Enrolled

1

MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE ACT AMENDMENTS
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Brian M. Greene
5 Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies Title 58, Chapter 47b, Massage Therapy Practice Act, by exempting
10 certain individuals from licensure under the act.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . exempts an individual from licensure as a massage therapist if the individual is
14 certified by, and in good standing with, a nationally recognized association that
15 represents a profession with established standards and ethics and:
16 . engages in the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to the hands, feet, and
17 outer ears only, including the practice of reflexology and foot zone therapy; and
18 . the individual's clients remain fully clothed from the shoulders to the knees; and
19 . makes technical changes.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 None
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 This bill coordinates with H.B. 324, Ortho-Bionomy Exemption Amendments, by
24 providing substantive and technical amendments.
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 58-47b-304 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 220
28 Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
29 58-47b-304 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 220

30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 58-47b-304 is amended to read:
33 58-47b-304. Exemptions from licensure.
34 (1) In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307 , the following
35 individuals may engage in the practice of massage therapy as defined under this chapter,
36 subject to the stated circumstances and limitations, without being licensed, but may not
37 represent themselves as a massage therapist or massage apprentice:
38 (a) [physicians and surgeons] a physician or surgeon licensed under Title 58, Chapter
39 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
40 (b) [nurses] a nurse licensed under Title 58, Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act, or under
41 Title 58, Chapter 44a, Nurse Midwife Practice Act;
42 (c) [physical therapists] a physical therapist licensed under Title 58, Chapter 24b,
43 Physical Therapy Practice Act;
44 (d) [physical therapist assistants] a physical therapist assistant licensed under Title 58,
45 Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice Act, while under the general supervision of a physical
46 therapist;
47 (e) [osteopathic physicians and surgeons] an osteopathic physician or surgeon licensed
48 under Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;
49 (f) [chiropractic physicians] a chiropractic physician licensed under Title 58, Chapter
50 73, Chiropractic Physician Practice Act;
51 (g) [hospital staff members] a hospital staff member employed by a hospital, who
52 [practice] practices massage as part of [their] the staff member's responsibilities;
53 [(h) athletic trainers who practice massage as part of their responsibilities while
54 employed by an educational institution or an athletic team that participates in organized sports
55 competition;]
56 (h) an athletic trainer licensed under Title 58, Chapter 40a, Athletic Trainer Licensing
57 Act;

58 (i) [students] a student in training enrolled in a massage therapy school approved by the
59 division;
60 (j) [naturopathic physicians] a naturopathic physician licensed under Title 58, Chapter
61 71, Naturopathic Physician Practice Act;
62 (k) an occupational therapist licensed under Title 58, Chapter 42a, Occupational
63 Therapy Practice Act; [and]
64 (l) [persons] an individual performing gratuitous massage[.]; and
65 (m) an individual certified by or through, and in good standing with, an industry
66 recognized organization that represents a profession with established standards and ethics:
67 (i) who engages in the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to the hands, feet,
68 and outer ears only, including the practice of reflexology and foot zone therapy;
69 (ii) whose clients remain fully clothed from the shoulders to the knees; and
70 (iii) whose clients do not receive gratuitous massage from the individual.
71 (2) This chapter may not be construed to authorize any individual licensed under this
72 chapter to engage in any manner in the practice of medicine as defined by the laws of this state.
73 (3) This chapter may not be construed to:
74 (a) [create or] require insurance coverage or reimbursement for massage therapy from
75 third party payors [if this type of coverage did not exist on or before February 15, 1990]; or
76 (b) prevent [any] an insurance carrier from offering coverage for massage therapy.
77 Section 2. Coordinating H.B. 207 with H.B. 324 -- Substantive and technical
78 amendments.
79 If this H.B. 207 and H.B. 324, Ortho-Bionomy Exemption Amendments, both pass and
80 become law, the Legislature intends that:
81 (1) this coordinating clause supersedes the coordinating clause contained in H.B. 324;
82 and
83 (2) the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in preparing the Utah
84 Code database for publication, modify Subsection 58-47b-304 (1)(m) to read:
85 "(m) an individual:

86 (i) certified by or through, and in good standing with, an industry organization that is
87 recognized by the division, and that represents a profession with established standards and
88 ethics;
89 (ii) (A) who limits the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to the hands, feet,
90 and outer ears only, including the practice of reflexology and foot zone therapy; or
91 (B) who is certified to practice ortho-bionomy and whose practice is limited to the
92 scope of practice of ortho-bionomy;
93 (iii) whose clients remain fully clothed from the shoulders to the knees; and
94 (iv) whose clients do not receive gratuitous massage from the individual."