1     
MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE ACT AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

5     
House Sponsor: Joel Ferry

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies exemptions from licensure provisions in the Massage Therapy
10     Practices Act.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     exempts a brain integration practitioner from being licensed as a massage therapist;
14     and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          58-47b-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 98 and 349
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 58-47b-304 is amended to read:
26          58-47b-304. Exemptions from licensure.
27          (1) In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307, the following

28     individuals may engage in the practice of massage therapy as defined under this chapter,
29     subject to the stated circumstances and limitations, without being licensed, but may not
30     represent themselves as a massage therapist or massage apprentice:
31          (a) a physician or surgeon licensed under Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
32          (b) a physician assistant licensed under Chapter 70a, Utah Physician Assistant Act;
33          (c) a nurse licensed under Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act, or under Chapter 44a,
34     Nurse Midwife Practice Act;
35          (d) a physical therapist licensed under Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice Act;
36          (e) a physical therapist assistant licensed under Chapter 24b, Physical Therapy Practice
37     Act, while under the general supervision of a physical therapist;
38          (f) an osteopathic physician or surgeon licensed under Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic
39     Medical Practice Act;
40          (g) a chiropractic physician licensed under Chapter 73, Chiropractic Physician Practice
41     Act;
42          (h) a hospital staff member employed by a hospital, who practices massage as part of
43     the staff member's responsibilities;
44          (i) an athletic trainer licensed under Chapter 40a, Athletic Trainer Licensing Act;
45          (j) a student in training enrolled in a massage therapy school approved by the division;
46          (k) a naturopathic physician licensed under Chapter 71, Naturopathic Physician
47     Practice Act;
48          (l) an occupational therapist licensed under Chapter 42a, Occupational Therapy
49     Practice Act;
50          (m) an individual performing gratuitous massage; and
51          (n) an individual:
52          (i) certified by or through, and in good standing with, an industry organization that is
53     recognized by the division and that represents a profession with established standards and
54     ethics:
55          (A) who is certified to practice reflexology and whose practice is limited to the scope
56     of practice of reflexology;
57          (B) who is certified to practice a type of zone therapy, including foot zone therapy, and
58     whose practice is limited to the scope of practice for which the individual is certified;

59          (C) who is certified to practice ortho-bionomy and whose practice is limited to the
60     scope of practice of ortho-bionomy; [or]
61          (D) who is certified to practice bowenwork and whose practice is limited to the scope
62     of practice of bowenwork; or
63          (E) who is certified to practice a type of brain integration and whose practice is limited
64     to the scope of practice for which the individual is certified;
65          (ii) whose clients remain fully clothed from the shoulders to the knees; and
66          (iii) whose clients do not receive gratuitous massage from the individual.
67          (2) This chapter may not be construed to authorize any individual licensed under this
68     chapter to engage in any manner in the practice of medicine as defined by the laws of this state.
69          (3) This chapter may not be construed to:
70          (a) require insurance coverage or reimbursement for massage therapy from third party
71     payors; or
72          (b) prevent an insurance carrier from offering coverage for massage therapy.