HB167 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

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34-43-6, 34-43-7, 34-43-9, 34-43-11, 34-43-12, 34-43-14, 34-43-15, 34-43-17, 34-43-20, 34-43-21 am'd; Sec. 34-43-10 repealed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

HB167 would overhaul Alabama's massage therapy rules by expanding exemptions, tightening licensure standards, increasing penalties, and boosting board authority and funding.

What This Bill Does

It expands who is exempt from the act and removes temporary practice permits. It updates board structure and titles, adds compensation, and specifies excused absences. It raises licensure requirements to 18 years old with a high school diploma and a criminal history check, and increases required training hours to 650 with a detailed hour breakdown. It enhances the board's power to license establishments, collect fees, enforce rules, and suspend or revoke licenses, and raises violations to Class A misdemeanors; it also repeals the old exam requirement and adds a Board-funded financial structure.

Who It Affects

• Massage therapists, massage therapy establishments, schools, and instructors would face higher licensing standards, new or higher fees, required liability insurance, and expanded enforcement powers by the board.
• The general public would benefit from stronger regulation and oversight of massage therapy, including stricter license discipline and improved consumer protection against unlicensed practice or misconduct.

Key Provisions

• Repeals the temporary permit and old examination requirements; allows a board-approved or nationally recognized exam option for licensure and repeals Section 34-43-10.
• Increases minimum licensure hours to 650 total, with specific splits for anatomy/physiology, basic massage therapy, related topics (including ethics and business), and electives; outlines post-1998 hour distribution.
• Requires licensure applicants to be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and undergo a criminal history background check; removes US citizenship requirement.
• Expands board powers to assess and collect various fees, license establishments, and set up a special board fund; increases oversight over education providers and instructor licensure.
• Raises penalties for violations from Class C to Class A misdemeanors and broadens grounds for suspension, revocation, or denial of licenses and establishment licenses.
• Redesigns board administration (rename executive secretary to executive director; provide compensation; set excused absences; remove oath filing and governor certification of appointment); expands board membership and governance rules.
• Creates broader exemptions from licensure (e.g., students, certain professionals in specific situations, hospitals, visiting instructors, MERT, Native American healers under certain conditions) and clarifies permissible activities outside the licensed practice.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Massage Therapy, Board of