SB413, s. 19 19Section 19. 440.983 to 440.988 of the statutes are repealed.
SB413, s. 20 20Section 20. 440.989 of the statutes is renumbered 460.17 and amended to
21read:
SB413,8,4 22460.17 Local regulation. A city, village, town, or county, may not enact an
23ordinance that regulates the practice of massage therapy or bodywork by a person
24who is issued a license of registration by the department examining board under
25this subchapter chapter. No provision of any ordinance enacted by a city, village,

1town, or county that is in effect before February 1, 1999, and that relates to the
2practice of massage therapy or bodywork, may be enforced against a person who
3is issued a license of registration by the department examining board under this
4subchapter chapter.
SB413, s. 21 5Section 21. 448.03 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB413,8,126 448.03 (2) (a) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license,
7permit, registration, certificate or certification granted to practice professional or
8practical nursing or nurse-midwifery under ch. 441, to practice chiropractic under
9ch. 446, to practice dentistry or dental hygiene under ch. 447, to practice optometry
10under ch. 449, to practice acupuncture under ch. 451, to practice massage therapy
11or bodywork under ch. 460
or under any other statutory provision, or as otherwise
12provided by statute.
SB413, s. 22 13Section 22. 448.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB413,9,214 448.10 (4) Massage and hydrotherapy. Any Notwithstanding s. 460.02, any
15person who, on July 11, 1953, was practicing massage and hydrotherapy in this state
16under a certificate of registration issued pursuant to s. 147.185, 1951 stats., as it
17existed prior to July 11, 1953, or who had applied for a certificate of registration in
18massage and hydrotherapy before said date, shall have the right to continue to so
19practice under such certificate, and the term "massage and hydrotherapy" shall be
20deemed to include the use of galvanic generator, diathermy, infrared ray and
21ultraviolet light for massage purposes. Nothing contained in this subsection shall
22limit the existing authority of the board to revoke such certificate for cause, and in
23addition, the board may require the holder of such certificate to demonstrate by
24examination fitness to use the instrumentalities enumerated in this subsection. A
25lack of such fitness shall constitute cause for revocation of such certificate. No such

1certificate holder shall treat a specific disease except on the advice of a licensed
2physician.
SB413, s. 23 3Section 23. 448.21 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB413,9,54 448.21 (1) (f) The practice of massage therapy or bodywork within the meaning
5of ch. 460.
SB413, s. 24 6Section 24. 451.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB413,9,97 451.02 (1) An individual holding a license, permit or certificate under ch. 441,
8446, 447, 448 or, 449, or 460 who engages in a practice of acupuncture that is also
9included within the scope of his or her license, permit, or certificate.
SB413, s. 25 10Section 25. Chapter 460 of the statutes is created to read:
SB413,9,1311 Chapter 460
12 Massage therapy and bodywork
13 examining board
SB413,9,14 14460.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
SB413,9,17 15(1) "Adjunctive therapy" includes the use of a device that simulates or enhances
16a manual action and the application of heat, cold, water, light, or a topical
17preparation.
SB413,9,19 18(2) "Examining board" means the massage therapy and bodywork examining
19board.
SB413,9,22 20(3) "Manual action" includes holding, positioning, rocking, kneading,
21compressing, decompressing, gliding, or percussing the soft tissue of the human body
22or applying a passive range of motion to the human body.
SB413,9,24 23(4) "Massage therapist or bodyworker" means a person who is licensed as a
24massage therapist or bodyworker under this chapter.
SB413,10,7
1(5) "Massage therapy or bodywork" means the science and healing art that uses
2manual actions to palpate and manipulate the soft tissue of the human body, and
3adjunctive therapies, to improve circulation, reduce tension, relieve soft tissue pain,
4or increase flexibility, and includes determining whether massage therapy or
5bodywork is appropriate or contraindicated, or whether a referral to another health
6care practitioner is appropriate. "Massage therapy or bodywork" does not include
7making a medical diagnosis.
SB413,10,8 8(6) "Physician's office" has the meaning given in s. 101.123 (1) (dg).
SB413,10,9 9(7) "Sexual contact" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (34).
SB413,10,10 10(8) "Sexual intercourse" has the meaning given in s. 948.01 (7) (a).
SB413,10,18 11460.02 License required. Except as provided in s. 460.03, no person may
12practice massage therapy or bodywork for compensation or in the expectation of
13compensation, or designate himself or herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker,
14or use or assume the title "massage therapist and bodyworker" or "massage
15therapist" or "bodyworker," or append to the person's name the letters "M.T.,"
16"L.M.T.," "B.W.," or "L.B.W.," or use any other title or designation that represents or
17may tend to represent the person as a massage therapist or bodyworker, unless the
18person is licensed under this chapter.
SB413,10,20 19460.03 Applicability. A license under this chapter is not required for any of
20the following:
SB413,10,25 21(1) A person holding a license, permit, registration, or certification granted by
22this state or the federal government who engages in a practice of massage therapy
23or bodywork within the scope of his or her license, permit, registration, or
24certification and who does not imply that he or she is a massage therapist or
25bodyworker.
SB413,11,3
1(2) A massage therapy or bodywork student practicing massage therapy or
2bodywork, without compensation, within the scope of the student's education or
3training, and under the supervision of an instructor.
SB413,11,7 4(3) A massage therapist or bodyworker who is licensed to practice massage
5therapy or bodywork in another state or country and is providing a consultation to
6or demonstration with a massage therapist or bodyworker who is licensed under this
7chapter.
SB413,11,9 8(4) A person who does any of the following and who does not imply that he or
9she is a massage therapist or bodyworker:
SB413,11,1010 (a) Restricts his or her manipulation of soft tissue to the hands or feet.
SB413,11,1211 (b) Uses touch or spoken words to increase awareness of existing or potential
12patterns of movement in the human body.
SB413,11,1413 (c) Restricts his or her touch to placing the hands on or above the human body
14to influence the energy fields within or around the body.
SB413,11,16 15460.04 Duties of examining board. (1) The examining board shall assign
16a unique license number to each person licensed under this chapter.
SB413,11,18 17(2) The examining board shall promulgate rules that establish all of the
18following:
SB413,11,2119 (a) Standards that govern the professional conduct of massage therapists or
20bodyworkers. The standards shall prohibit a massage therapist or bodyworker from
21having sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a client.
SB413,11,2522 (b) Criteria for approving a school of massage therapy or bodywork from which
23graduation is required under s. 460.05 (1) (e) 1. Rules promulgated under this
24paragraph shall define the curricula and qualifications of instructors that are
25required for approval of a school.
SB413,12,4
1(c) Criteria for approving the courses of instruction required under s. 460.05
2(1) (e) 2. and 3. Rules promulgated under this paragraph shall require the course of
3instruction required under s. 460.05 (1) (e) 3. to consist of at least 600 classroom
4hours.
SB413,12,65 (d) Requirements and procedures for obtaining the informed consent of a client
6under s. 460.11 (1) and for making a report required under s. 460.12 (1).
SB413,12,77 (e) A definition of "sexually oriented business" for purposes of s. 460.11 (3).
SB413,12,10 8460.05 Licensure of massage therapists or bodyworkers. (1) The
9examining board shall grant a license as a massage therapist or bodyworker to a
10person who satisfies all of the following:
SB413,12,1111 (a) The person is 18 years of age or older.
SB413,12,1412 (b) The person has graduated from high school or attained high school
13graduation equivalency as determined by the department of public instruction under
14s. 115.29 (4).
SB413,12,1615 (c) The person submits an application for the license to the department on a
16form provided by the department.
SB413,12,1717 (d) The person pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).
SB413,12,1918 (e) Except as provided in sub. (2), the person submits evidence satisfactory to
19the examining board that he or she has done all of the following:
SB413,12,2120 1. Graduated from a school of massage therapy or bodywork approved under
21s. 45.54.
SB413,12,2422 2. Completed at least 6 classroom hours in the laws of this state and rules of
23the examining board relating to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork in a
24course of instruction approved by the examining board.
SB413,13,3
13. Completed a minimum number of classroom hours, established by the
2examining board by rule, in a course of instruction in the principles and techniques
3of massage therapy or bodywork that is approved by the examining board.
SB413,13,44 (f) The person passes the examinations under s. 460.06.
SB413,13,8 5(2) The examining board may waive a requirement specified in sub. (1) (e) if
6a person establishes, to the satisfaction of the examining board, that he or she has
7education, training, or other experience that is substantially equivalent to the
8requirement.
SB413,13,13 9460.07 Issuance of license; expiration and renewal. (1) The department
10shall issue a certificate of licensure to each person who is licensed under this chapter.
11The person shall conspicuously display the certificate in the place of business where
12he or she practices massage therapy or bodywork so that the certificate can easily be
13seen and read.
SB413,13,18 14(2) The renewal dates for licenses granted under this chapter, other than
15temporary licenses granted under s. 460.08, are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).
16Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the
17department and shall include the renewal fee specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a) and, if
18applicable, proof of completion of continuing education under s. 460.10.
SB413,14,2 19460.08 Temporary license. Upon application and payment of the fee
20specified in s. 440.05 (6), the examining board may grant a temporary massage
21therapist or bodyworker license to a person who satisfies the requirements under s.
22460.05 (1) (a) to (e), has submitted an application to take the next available
23examinations under s. 460.06, and has not previously failed an examination. A
24temporary license granted under this section shall expire on the date on which the
25person receives notice that he or she failed one of the examinations or that he or she

1has passed both examinations. A temporary license granted under this section may
2not be renewed.
SB413,14,9 3460.09 Reciprocal license. Upon application and payment of the fee
4specified in s. 440.05 (2), the examining board shall grant a massage therapist or
5bodyworker license to a person who holds a similar license or certificate in another
6state or territory of the United States or another country if the examining board
7determines that the requirements for receiving the license or certificate in the other
8state, territory, or country are substantially equivalent to the requirements under
9s. 460.05.
SB413,14,19 10460.10 Continuing education. The examining board may promulgate rules
11establishing requirements and procedures for a massage therapist or bodyworker to
12complete continuing education programs or courses of study to qualify for renewal
13of his or her license. Any rules promulgated under this section shall require a
14massage therapist or bodyworker to complete at least 12 hours of continuing
15education programs or courses of study to qualify for renewal. The examining board
16may waive all or part of any requirement established in rules promulgated under this
17section if it determines that prolonged illness, disability, or other exceptional
18circumstances have prevented a massage therapist or bodyworker from completing
19the requirement.
SB413,14,23 20460.11 Practice requirements. (1) A massage therapist or bodyworker may
21not practice massage therapy or bodywork on a client unless the massage therapist
22or bodyworker first obtains the informed consent of the client and has informed the
23client that he or she may withdraw the consent at any time.
SB413,15,5 24(2) A massage therapist or bodyworker shall keep confidential any information
25that a client in confidence gives to the massage therapist or bodyworker and any

1other information that the massage therapist or bodyworker obtains about a client
2in the course of practicing massage therapy or bodywork that a reasonable person
3in the client's position would want kept confidential, unless the information is
4otherwise required by law to be disclosed or the client specifically authorizes the
5disclosure of the information.
SB413,15,8 6(3) A massage therapist or bodyworker may not, whether for compensation or
7not, practice massage therapy or bodywork for a sexually oriented business, as
8defined by the examining board by rule.
SB413,15,15 9460.12 Duty to make reports. (1) A massage therapist or bodyworker shall
10submit a report to the examining board if he or she has reasonable cause to believe
11that another massage therapist or bodyworker has committed a crime relating to
12prostitution under ss. 944.30 to 944.34 or has had sexual contact or sexual
13intercourse with a client. If the report relates to sexual contact or sexual intercourse
14with a client, the report may not identify the client unless the client has provided
15written consent for disclosure of this information.
SB413,15,21 16(2) The examining board may use a report made under sub. (1) as the basis for
17an investigation under s. 460.15 (1). If, after an investigation, the examining board
18has reasonable cause to believe that a massage therapist or bodyworker has
19committed a crime, the examining board shall report the belief to the district
20attorney for the county in which the crime, in the opinion of the examining board,
21occurred.
SB413,15,25 22(3) If, after an investigation, the examining board determines that a report
23submitted under sub. (1) is without merit, the examining board shall remove the
24report from the record of the massage therapist or bodyworker who is the subject of
25the report.
SB413,16,14
1(4) All reports and records made from reports under sub. (1) and maintained
2by the department, the examining board, district attorneys and other persons,
3officials, and institutions shall be confidential and are exempt from disclosure under
4s. 19.35 (1). Information regarding the identity of a client with whom a massage
5therapist or bodyworker is suspected of having sexual contact or sexual intercourse
6shall not be disclosed by persons who have received or have access to a report or
7record unless disclosure is consented to in writing by the client. The report of
8information under sub. (1) and the disclosure of a report or record under this
9subsection does not violate any person's responsibility for maintaining the
10confidentiality of patient health care records, as defined in s. 146.81 (4) and as
11required under s. 146.82. Reports and records may be disclosed only to the
12department, the examining board, and the appropriate staff of a district attorney or
13a law enforcement agency within this state for purposes of investigation or
14prosecution.
SB413,16,16 15(5) (a) In this subsection, "violation" means a violation of any state or local law
16that is punishable by a forfeiture.
SB413,16,2517 (b) A massage therapist or bodyworker shall submit a written report to the
18examining board if he or she is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or is found to
19have committed a violation, in this state or elsewhere, and if the circumstances of the
20felony, misdemeanor, or violation substantially relate to the practice of massage
21therapy or bodywork. The report shall identify the date, place, and nature of the
22conviction or finding and shall be submitted within 30 days after the entry of the
23judgment of conviction or the judgment finding that he or she committed the
24violation. If the report is submitted by mail, the report is considered to be submitted
25on the date that it is mailed.
SB413,17,4
1460.13 Employment of massage therapists or bodyworkers. No person
2may employ a person to engage in the practice of massage therapy or bodywork
3unless the person who is employed is licensed under this chapter or is exempt from
4the licensure requirements of this chapter.
SB413,17,9 5460.14 Advertising. A massage therapist or bodyworker may not advertise
6that he or she practices massage therapy or bodywork unless the advertisement
7includes his or her license number and a statement that the massage therapist or
8bodyworker is a "licensed massage therapist and bodyworker" or "licensed massage
9therapist" or "licensed bodyworker."
SB413,17,13 10460.15 Disciplinary proceedings and actions. (1) Subject to the rules
11promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the examining board may make investigations and
12conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this chapter or any rule
13promulgated under this chapter has occurred.
SB413,17,17 14(2) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the examining board
15may reprimand a massage therapist or bodyworker or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke
16a license under this chapter if it finds that the applicant or licensee has done any of
17the following:
SB413,17,1918 (a) Made a material misstatement in an application for a license or for renewal
19of a license.
SB413,17,2220 (b) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, been convicted of an offense the
21circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of massage therapy or
22bodywork.
SB413,17,2323 (c) Advertised in a manner that is false, deceptive, or misleading.
SB413,17,2424 (d) Advertised, practiced, or attempted to practice under another's name.
SB413,18,2
1(e) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.34, practiced massage therapy or
2bodywork while his or her ability to practice was impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
SB413,18,43 (f) Intentionally made a false statement in a report submitted under s. 460.12
4(1).
SB413,18,65 (g) Engaged in unprofessional conduct in violation of the standards established
6in rules promulgated under s. 460.04 (2) (a).
SB413,18,107 (h) Engaged in conduct while practicing massage therapy or bodywork that
8jeopardizes the health, safety, or welfare of a client or that evidences a lack of
9knowledge of, inability to apply, or the negligent application of, principles or skills
10of massage therapy or bodywork.
SB413,18,1111 (i) Committed a crime related to prostitution under ss. 944.30 to 944.34.
SB413,18,1212 (j) Violated this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter.
SB413,18,15 13(3) The examining board may restore a license that has been suspended or
14revoked on such terms and conditions as the examining board may deem
15appropriate.
SB413,18,18 16460.16 Penalties. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), any person who violates
17this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter shall forfeit not more than
18$1,000 for each violation.
SB413,18,21 19(2) A person who violates s. 460.02 shall forfeit not more than $500 for each
20violation. Each day of continued violation of s. 460.02 constitutes a separate
21violation.
SB413, s. 26 22Section 26. 895.48 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB413,19,823 895.48 (1m) (intro.) Any physician or athletic trainer licensed under ch. 448,
24chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, dentist licensed under ch. 447, emergency
25medical technician licensed under s. 146.50, first responder certified under s. 146.50

1(8), physician assistant licensed under ch. 448, registered nurse licensed under ch.
2441, or a massage therapist or bodyworker issued a license of registration under
3subch. XI of ch. 440 460 who renders voluntary health care to a participant in an
4athletic event or contest sponsored by a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 46.93
5(1m) (c), a private school, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), a public agency, as defined in
6s. 46.93 (1m) (e), or a school, as defined in s. 609.655 (1) (c), is immune from civil
7liability for his or her acts or omissions in rendering that care if all of the following
8conditions exist:
SB413, s. 27 9Section 27. 908.03 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB413,19,1410 908.03 (6m) (a) Definition. In this subsection, "health care provider" means
11a massage therapist or bodyworker issued a license of registration under subch. XI
12of
ch. 440 460, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist licensed under ch. 447,
13a physician assistant licensed under ch. 448, or a health care provider as defined in
14s. 655.001 (8).
SB413, s. 28 15Section 28 . Nonstatutory provisions.
SB413,19,1616 (1) Initial appointments.
SB413,19,2017 (a) Notwithstanding section 15.405 (6r) (a) of the statutes, as created by this
18act, the initial members of the massage therapy and bodywork examining board shall
19be appointed by the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of
20this paragraph for the following terms:
SB413,19,22 211. Two massage therapist or bodyworker members and one public member, for
22terms expiring on July 1, 2003.
SB413,19,24 232. One massage therapist or bodyworker member, for a term expiring on July
241, 2004.
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