AB588: Bill Text

LRB-0273/7

TKK:kjf:md

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 588

November 18, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Berceau, Kaufert, Pope-Roberts, Suder, Van Roy, Hilgenberg, Staskunas, Ballweg, Molepske Jr. and Steinbrink, cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Taylor, Wirch, Ellis, Olsen and Risser. Referred to Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.

AB588,2,2 An Act to repeal 460.04 (3), 460.04 (4), 460.05 (3), 460.14 (4) and 460.15 (2); to renumber and amend 15.407 (7), 460.01 (1), 460.01 (2), 460.03, 460.04 (1), 460.06, 460.10 and 460.15 (1); to amend 15.08 (1m) (b), 146.81 (1) (hp), 146.997 (1) (d) 13., 180.1901 (1m) (ag), 252.15 (1) (ar) 1., 440.03 (13) (b) 38., 440.08 (2) (a) 46r., chapter 460 (title), 460.01 (3), 460.01 (4), 460.02, 460.04 (title), 460.04 (2) (intro.), (a), (b) and (e), 460.05 (title), 460.05 (1) (intro.), 460.05 (1) (c), 460.05 (1) (e), 460.05 (1) (g), 460.05 (2), 460.07 (1), 460.07 (2) (intro.), 460.07 (2) (c), 460.07 (2) (d), 460.09, 460.11, 460.12 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) (b), 460.13, 460.14 (1), 460.14 (2) (intro.), 460.14 (2) (a), 460.14 (2) (b), 460.14 (2) (e), 460.14 (2) (h), 460.14 (2m) (intro.), 460.14 (3), 460.17 and 895.48 (1m) (a) (intro.) and 2.; and to create 15.405 (6r) (a) 2., 460.01 (1g), 460.03 (1m) (c), 460.03 (2m), 460.04 (1m), 460.04 (2) (f), 460.04 (2) (g), 460.08, 460.095 and 460.10 (1) (b) of the statutes; relating to: changes to the regulation of massage therapy and bodywork, creating the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Examining Board, and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes a number of changes to the regulation of massage therapists and bodyworkers.

Under current law, a person may be certified as a massage therapist or bodyworker by the Department of Regulation and Licensing (department). The department is served in an advisory capacity by the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Council, which reviews and may comment on any rules proposed by the department. The council consists of seven members who are certified as massage therapists or bodyworkers.

The bill creates a Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Examining Board (board) in the department and transfers rule-making powers to the board. The bill directs the board to license, not certify, persons who fulfill the requirements for licensure as massage therapists or bodyworker therapists. The bill also permits the board to grant a temporary license to practice massage therapy or bodywork therapy for a period not to exceed six months, and requires the board to establish requirements for temporary licensure by rule.

This bill changes uses of the term, "massage therapy or bodywork," to "massage therapy" or "bodywork therapy," and changes uses of the term, "bodyworker," to "bodywork therapist."

The bill requires one of the seven members of the board to be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school approved by the Educational Approval Board, and one member of the board to be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy program offered by a technical college in this state. No other members of the board may be affiliated with a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school or program. The bill also requires one member of the board to be a member of the public.

Current law prohibits a person who is not certified by the department from designating himself or herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker or using any title that represents that he or she is certified. With one exception noted below, this bill permits persons who are exempt from the licensing requirement to use the terms, "bodywork," "bodyworker," and "bodywork therapy" to identify his or her practice. The bill also creates the following two new exemptions from the licensing requirement:

1. A person who manipulates only the soft tissue of the hands, feet, and ears. Persons who fall under this exemption may not represent or imply that their services are massage therapy or bodywork therapy.

2. A person whose practice involves the use of touch or touch and movement to assist and bring body awareness to his or her clients and who is recognized by a professional organization or credentialing association after that person has demonstrated an adequate level of training and competency.

Under current law, an applicant for certification must have passed an examination offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or an examination administered by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. This bill requires an applicant for licensure to achieve a passing grade on a nationally administered entry-level competency examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork therapy that meets generally accepted psychometric principles and standards or a substantially equivalent examination approved by the board. The bill also requires all applicants for a license to pass an examination on state laws and rules governing massage therapy and bodywork therapy. The bill requires the board to prepare the state examination. The bill further requires massage therapy and bodywork therapy schools in Wisconsin to provide and require as a prerequisite to graduation the completion of a course on the state laws and rules and to administer, require as a prerequisite to graduation, and grade the state examination.

Under current law, there are no requirements governing massage therapy or bodywork therapy instructors in Wisconsin. This bill requires instructors teaching courses in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology at a school of massage therapy or bodywork therapy to have completed two years of post-secondary education and training or to have professional training and two years of experience in a health-related field. The bill also requires instructors teaching courses in the theory and practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy at a school of massage therapy or bodywork therapy to be licensed as a massage therapist or bodywork therapist and either two years as a practicing professional or formal education and training as a massage therapy or bodywork therapy instructor.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB588, s. 1 Section 1. 15.08 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,4,2 15.08 (1m) (b) The public members of the chiropractic examining board, the dentistry examining board, the hearing and speech examining board, the medical examining board, perfusionists examining council, respiratory care practitioners examining council and council on physician assistants, the board of nursing, the massage therapy and bodywork therapy examining board, the nursing home administrator examining board, the veterinary examining board, the optometry examining board, the pharmacy examining board, the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board, and the psychology examining board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.

AB588, s. 2 Section 2. 15.405 (6r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB588,4,4 15.405 (6r) (a) 2. One public member.

AB588, s. 3 Section 3. 15.407 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 15.405 (6r), and 15.405 (6r) (a) and (b) (intro.), 2. and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB588,4,11 15.405 (6r) Massage therapy and bodywork council therapy examining board. (a) There is created a massage therapy and bodywork council therapy examining board in the department of regulation and licensing, serving the department in an advisory capacity. The council examining board shall consist of the following 7 members, appointed for 4-year terms, who are:

AB588,4,20 1. Six massage therapists or bodyworkers certified bodywork therapists licensed under ch. 460 and who have engaged in the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy for at least 2 years preceding appointment. One member appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school approved by the educational approval board under s. 38.50. One member appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy program offered by a technical college in this state. No other members appointed under this subdivision shall be directly or indirectly affiliated with a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school or program.

AB588,4,23 (b) (intro.) In appointing members under par. (a), the governor shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the membership of the council examining board is diverse, based on all of the following factors:

AB588,4,25 2. Affiliation and nonaffiliation with a professional association for the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy.

AB588,5,2 3. Professional associations with which massage therapists or bodyworkers bodywork therapists in this state are affiliated.

AB588, s. 4 Section 4. 146.81 (1) (hp) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,5,5 146.81 (1) (hp) A massage therapist or bodyworker certified bodywork therapist licensed under ch. 460.

AB588, s. 5 Section 5. 146.997 (1) (d) 13. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,5,8 146.997 (1) (d) 13. A massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist issued a certificate licensed under ch. 460.

AB588, s. 6 Section 6. 180.1901 (1m) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,5,11 180.1901 (1m) (ag) The department of regulation and licensing massage therapy and bodywork therapy examining board under ch. 460.

AB588, s. 7 Section 7. 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, is amended to read:

AB588,5,16 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. A person or entity that is specified in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hm) and (i) to (p), but does not include a massage therapist or bodyworker issued a certificate under ch. 460.

AB588, s. 8 Section 8. 440.03 (13) (b) 38. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,5,18 440.03 (13) (b) 38. Massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist.

AB588, s. 9 Section 9. 440.08 (2) (a) 46r. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

AB588,5,22 440.08 (2) (a) 46r. Massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist: March 1 of each odd-numbered year.

AB588, s. 10 Section 10. Chapter 460 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB588,5,24 CHAPTER 460

AB588,6,2 Massage therapy and bodywork therapy

AB588, s. 11 Section 11. 460.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 460.01 (2m) and amended to read:

AB588,6,6 460.01 (2m) "Certificate License holder" means a person granted a certificate license under this chapter.

AB588, s. 12 Section 12. 460.01 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB588,6,8 460.01 (1g) "Adjunctive therapy" means any of the following:

AB588,6,9 (a) The use of a device that simulates or enhances a manual action.