22 - Laserfiche WebLink

AB 1147 Assembly Bill-Bill Analysis Page 20 of 35 certified massage establishment operator, would provide entities which require a massage establishment operator, or those individuals who seek to manage a massage establishment, with the tools and resources to effectively manage a massage establishment. For those local jurisdictions that require an operator on the premise of a massage establishment, this bill would help provide a streamlined and uniform approach to the regulation of these individuals. According to the provisions of this bill, certified operators would be subject to the CAMTC's current disciplinary authority and unprofessional conduct standards. h) Increase the accountability of the CAMTC. In an effort to increase the accountability of the CAMTC and to better inform the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature about the CAMTC's enforcement outcomes and administrative issues, this bill requires the CAMTC to provide reports to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature, which contain information about enforcement outcomes including the number of disciplined certificates, along with information from local law enforcement about certificate holders. In addition, this bill requires the CAMTC to report back to the Legislature in January 2016, about specified administrative issues. 2.Background. a) The Practice of Massage Therapy in California. Massage has grown into the third most requested Complementary and Alternative AB 1147 Page 27 Practice; only chiropractic and relaxation techniques are more popular, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter (AMTA-CA) . Massage is used for managing stress, enhancing self-awareness, maintaining health, increasing athletic performance, rehabilitating from injuries, and as an adjunct to medical treatment for a wide variety of conditions. Estimates based on surveys, professional affiliations, and liability insurance show that up to 40,000 massage therapists are currently practicing in California. Exact numbers are hard to pinpoint given the high turnover rate of the profession. Some massage therapists are independent practitioners while a large number of others are employees of spas and chiropractors. According to the AMTA-CA, 220 schools in California are now approved to offer instruction in massage, with programs ranging from 100 hours to 1,000 hours. In addition to the large number of proprietary schools approved by the Bureau of Private Post-Secondary and Education or nationally accredited, massage as a vocation is now taught in cosmetology schools, trade schools, and several community colleges. Titles used in California by the massage profession include: massage therapist, massage practitioner, certified massage therapist, massage technician, bodyworker, masseur, masseuse, myotherapist, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Where no local regulations exist, any title can be used. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) certifies massage therapists and bodyworkers on behalf of the profession. NCBTMB developed and administers the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. There is also a nationally recognized certification exam for practitioners for certification in Asian bodywork therapies. This is administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-I4/bill/asm/ab_1 101-1 150/ab_1147_cfa_20140620_I 1 I 1 15_sen_comm.htnl 7/3/2014