Chapter 460

460.12 460.12 Duty to make reports.

460.12(1) (1) A license holder shall submit a report to the affiliated credentialing board if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that another license holder has committed a crime relating to prostitution under ss. 944.30 to 944.34 or has had sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a client. If the report relates to sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a client, the report may not identify the client unless the client has provided written consent for disclosure of this information.

460.12(2) (2) The affiliated credentialing board may use a report made under sub. (1) as the basis for an investigation under s. 460.14 (1). If, after an investigation, the affiliated credentialing board has reasonable cause to believe that a license holder has committed a crime, the affiliated credentialing board shall report the belief to the district attorney for the county in which the crime, in the opinion of the affiliated credentialing board, occurred.

460.12(3) (3) If, after an investigation, the affiliated credentialing board determines that a report submitted under sub. (1) is without merit, the affiliated credentialing board shall remove the report from the record of the license holder who is the subject of the report.

460.12(4) (4) All reports and records made from reports under sub. (1) and maintained by the affiliated credentialing board, the department, district attorneys, and other persons, officials, and institutions shall be confidential and are exempt from disclosure under s. 19.35 (1). Information regarding the identity of a client with whom a license holder is suspected of having sexual contact or sexual intercourse shall not be disclosed by persons who have received or have access to a report or record unless disclosure is consented to in writing by the client. The report of information under sub. (1) and the disclosure of a report or record under this subsection does not violate any person’s responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of patient health care records, as defined in s. 146.81 (4) and as required under s. 146.82. Reports and records may be disclosed only to the affiliated credentialing board, the department, and the appropriate staff of a district attorney or a law enforcement agency within this state for purposes of investigation or prosecution.

460.12(5) (5) 

460.12(5)(a) (a) In this subsection, “violation” means a violation of any state or local law that is punishable by a forfeiture.

460.12(5)(b) (b) A license holder shall submit a written report to the affiliated credentialing board if he or she is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or is found to have committed a violation, in this state or elsewhere, and if the circumstances of the felony, misdemeanor, or violation substantially relate to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy. The report shall identify the date, place, and nature of the conviction or finding and shall be submitted within 30 days after the entry of the judgment of conviction or the judgment finding that he or she committed the violation. If the report is submitted by mail, the report is considered to be submitted on the date that it is mailed.

460.12 History History: 2001 a. 74; 2009 a. 355.

460.13 460.13 Advertising. Except as provided in s. 460.03 (1) and (2), a license holder may not advertise that he or she practices massage therapy or bodywork therapy unless the advertisement includes a statement that the license holder is a “licensed massage therapist and bodywork therapist” or “licensed massage therapist” or “licensed bodywork therapist.”

460.13 History History: 2001 a. 74; 2009 a. 355; 2011 a. 260 s. 80.

460.14 460.14 Disciplinary proceedings and actions.

460.14(1) (1) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the affiliated credentialing board may make investigations and conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter has occurred.

460.14(2) (2) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the affiliated credentialing board may reprimand a license holder or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke a license under this chapter if it finds that the applicant or license holder has done any of the following:

460.14(2)(a) (a) Made a material misstatement in an application for a license or for renewal of a license.

460.14(2)(b) (b) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, been convicted of an offense the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy.

460.14(2)(c) (c) Advertised in a manner that is false, deceptive, or misleading.

460.14(2)(d) (d) Advertised, practiced, or attempted to practice under another’s name.

460.14(2)(e) (e) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.34, practiced massage therapy or bodywork therapy while his or her ability to practice was impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

460.14(2)(f) (f) Intentionally made a false statement in a report submitted under s. 460.12 (1).

460.14(2)(g) (g) Engaged in unprofessional conduct in violation of the standards established in rules promulgated under s. 460.04 (2) (a).

460.14(2)(h) (h) Engaged in conduct while practicing massage therapy or bodywork therapy that jeopardizes the health, safety, or welfare of a client or that evidences a lack of knowledge of, inability to apply, or the negligent application of, principles or skills of massage therapy or bodywork therapy.

460.14(2)(j) (j) Violated this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter.

460.14(2m) (2m) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the affiliated credentialing board shall revoke a license under this chapter if the license holder is convicted of any of the following:

460.14(2m)(a) (a) An offense under s. 940.22, 940.225, 944.15, 944.17, 944.30 (1m), 944.31, 944.32, 944.33, 944.34, 948.02, 948.025, 948.08, 948.081, 948.085, 948.09, 948.095, or 948.10.

460.14(2m)(b) (b) An offense under federal law or a law of any other state that is comparable to an offense under par. (a).

460.14(3) (3) The affiliated credentialing board may restore a license that has been suspended or revoked on such terms and conditions as the affiliated credentialing board may deem appropriate.

460.14(4) (4) The affiliated credentialing board may, in addition to or in lieu of a reprimand or revocation, limitation, suspension, or denial of a license, assess against a person who has done anything specified under sub. (2) (a) to (j) a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for each separate offense. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense.

460.14 History History: 2001 a. 74; 2005 a. 277; 2009 a. 355; 2013 a. 362; 2017 a. 128; 2019 a. 41.

460.145 460.145 Employment of unlicensed persons. No person may employ or contract for the services of an individual to provide massage therapy or bodywork therapy who is required to be licensed under s. 460.02 unless the individual is licensed under this chapter.

460.145 History History: 2019 a. 41.

460.15 460.15 Penalty. Any person who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated under this chapter may be fined not more than $1,000 for each violation or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both.

460.15 History History: 2001 a. 74; 2009 a. 355; 2019 a. 41.

460.17 460.17 Local regulation.

460.17(1) (1) A city, village, town, or county may not enact an ordinance that regulates the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy by a person who is licensed by the affiliated credentialing board under this chapter. No provision of any ordinance enacted by a city, village, town, or county that is in effect before February 1, 1999, and that relates to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork therapy, may be enforced against a person who is licensed by the affiliated credentialing board under this chapter.

460.17(2) (2) 

460.17(2)(a) (a)

460.17(2)(a)1. 1. A city, village, or town may enact and enforce an ordinance that prohibits an individual from violating the prohibitions under s. 460.02 unless the individual is licensed under this chapter as required under s. 460.02.

460.17(2)(a)2. 2. A city, village, or town may enact and enforce an ordinance that prohibits a person from employing or contracting for the services of an individual to provide massage therapy or bodywork therapy who is required to be licensed under s. 460.02 unless the individual is licensed under this chapter.

460.17(2)(b) (b) Law enforcement personnel of a city, village, or town may issue citations for violations of a local ordinance described in par. (a), and the city, village, or town may impose forfeitures, not to exceed the amount specified in s. 460.14 (4), for violations of such an ordinance.

460.17 History History: 2001 a. 74 s. 19; 2009 a. 355; 2019 a. 41.