12 - Laserfiche WebLink

Massage School Student Clinics: Massage school student clinics are a valuable component of a student's education because clinics provide opportunities to practice skills and learn more about massage. The current ordinance requires massage permits for students who wish to provide massage at student clinics. Because most students would not be eligible for a permit based on the ordinance's education requirements, and even if they were, the issuance of a permit for student clinics would not be practical economically or administratively, the proposed ordinance exempts from the permit requirement students who, as part of their coursework, provide massage to the public at student clinics. Students may participate in clinics if certain conditions are met to satisfy concerns related to protecting public safety and thwarting illegal activities (e.g., by requiring the student to have completed a minimum number of hours of education related to massage prior to participating in a student clinic and requiring that the massage be administered under an instructor's direct supervision). The proposed ordinance also allows the school to charge a fee for the massage. The proposed ordinance provides for student clinics by including a definition of "student clinic" (6.24.020(0)), exempting permits for students who participate in student clinics (6.24.040(C), and providing that a school that offers student clinics is a treated as a massage establishment (6.24.020(E), definition of "massage establishment" includes a school that provides student clinics). The base education requirements for students who wish to participate in clinics includes 100 hours of education, including 20 hours of ethics, 20 hours of anatomy and physiology, 20 hours of any massage modality and 40 hours of either Swedish or Shiatsu massage. If the City finds that the requirement of 40 hours of Swedish or Shiatsu massage is too limiting, this requirement may be revisited. The proposed ordinance provides that the clinics could be suspended if unlawful activity were found. This result parallels the massage permit revocation penalty faced by massage establishments if they or persons working at the establishments are found to be engaged in unlawful activity. (6.24.020(E), 6.24.210.) Prior Employment: The current ordinance requires that applicants provide the names of businesses in which they have been employed for the past seven years. The ordinance proposed extends the timeframe from seven to ten years. This timeframe provides a broader timeframe for the Police Department to review an applicant's prior employment history. (6.24.060(8)(5).) Permit Appeal Process: The current law provides that appeals for massage permit suspension and revocations are heard by the City Manager. The proposed ordinance defines "City Manager" to mean the City Manager or the City Manager's designee. This amendment will allow someone other than the City Manager, such as one of the City's hearing officers, to hear appeals. (6.24.020(6), definition of "City Manager".) Page 5 of 8