SB431 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Massage Therapy, Board of, massage therapists further regulated, penalties increased, Secs. 34-43-3, 34-43-5, 34-43-6, 34-43-7, 34-43-9, 34-43-11, 34-43-12, 34-43-14, 34-43-15, 34-43-17, 34-43-20, 34-43-21 am'd; Sec. 34-43-10 repealed

Summary

SB431 would overhaul Alabama's Massage Therapy Licensure Act by expanding exemptions, tightening board structure and penalties, and increasing education and regulatory requirements for massage therapists and establishments.

What This Bill Does

The bill expands who is exempt from licensure, repeals the temporary permit, and updates terminology and board leadership. It raises licensure education hours to 650 with a detailed breakdown, requires applicants to be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a criminal history check, while removing the US citizenship requirement. It strengthens the board's ability to license establishments, revoke or suspend licenses, and assess new fees, while increasing penalties for violations to a Class A misdemeanor and repealing the previous examination requirement. It also adds continuing education (16 hours per renewal), registers massage schools and instructors, and broadens definitions and exemptions related to massage therapy, with specific rules for schools, instructors, and ongoing oversight.

Who It Affects

• Licensed massage therapists: must meet higher education hours (650 total with specified breakdown), be 18 or older, pass a background check, and may face stricter enforcement and higher penalties.
• Massage therapy establishments: face expanded licensing powers, potential revocation/suspension, background checks for licensees, and new reporting and fee requirements.
• Massage therapy schools and instructors: must register with the board, have instructors who are licensed, and comply with continuing education provider rules and renewal procedures.
• Board members and the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy: receive compensation, have revised duties and structure, and greater authority to set fees and regulate licenses and establishments.
• Public/patients: potentially benefit from stronger regulation, higher standards of practice, and increased enforcement against unlicensed practice or violations.
• Applicants (including those already practicing under exemptions): changes to eligibility (18+, background check, education), removal of citizenship requirement, and new testing/licensure pathways.
• Hospitals and certain medical/healthcare settings: exemptions exist for hospital facilities and related clinics, affecting how massage services may be provided within those settings.

Key Provisions

• Expand exemptions from the act and delete references to temporary permits to practice massage therapy.
• Delete antiquated language and rename executive secretary to executive director; designate excused absences for board meetings; remove oath filing with the Governor and certificates of appointment.
• Increase minimum supervised course hours for licensure to a total of 650 hours with a specified breakdown (anatomy, physiology, basic and advanced massage therapy, ethics, business, etc.) and require 100 hours of postgrad animal massage training for animal work.
• Require licensure applicants to be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and undergo a criminal history background check; remove US citizenship requirement.
• Eliminate a limit on retests and repeal the requirement that board exam records be filed for two years; authorize the board to assess and collect certain fees; give the board more discretion to license establishments and to revoke or suspend licenses; increase penalties for violations to Class A misdemeanor.
• Repeal Section 34-43-10 (the massage therapist examination) and allow use of a National Certification or board-approved exam, with board reserves to administer other formats as needed.
• Impose a continuing education requirement of 16 hours for license renewal, with approved providers and eligible credits; allow audits of renewals; require proof of attendance for continued education.
• Establish a detailed fee schedule for examinations, initial licenses, renewals, establishments, schools, instructors, and other administrative costs; create a separate Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Fund to handle receipts and disbursements.
• Require that schools and instructors be registered, with rules for ongoing approval and renewals; define terms related to establishments, licenses, and professional standards.
• Constitutional note: bill includes a local-funds expenditure provision under Amendment 621 (Section 111.05) indicating exceptions that allow local expenditures without 2/3 vote approval; effective date is the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Massage Therapy, Board of