Support your local Licensed Massage Therapist!
Support your local Licensed Massage Therapist!
The Issue
*UPDATED 3/14/2022 SB180.S03 is dead on a technicality. We continue to work towards fighting this as it could come back as early as Mid May. Please continue to sign and share the petition so our grass roots network is ready to respond and stop this.
We thank you for your continued support.
*UPDATED 2/26/2022 to reflect the most recent changes to the proposed bill
Keep Licensed Massage Therapy Safe in Utah
– OPPOSE Senate Bill.180.S01
This bill was created by two spa owners with maybe a dozen supporters, who are seeking to create a cheap, exploitable workforce for their personal benefit – and to the detriment of the health, safety, and well being of the public, as well as the denigration of the field of Massage Therapy itself.
This bill is OPPOSED by multiple local and national organization that represent Massage Therapy and the best interests of Massage Therapists (AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB, etc) as well as the owners and program directors of multiple massage schools (who arguably would financially benefit from this bill more than anyone), dozens of teachers, members of the Utah Board of Massage Therapy, the online team at Utah LMTs, and thousands of individuals both LMTs and the public alike.
These facts alone, should say a lot.
But here are some more details:
SB.180.S01
1. Creates TWO grossly undereducated, unqualified, and unsafe LOWER tiers of licensure for Massage Therapy.
i. “Certified Massage Assistants” (CMAs), and
ii. “Massage Assistants In Training” (MAITs).
iii. CMAs and MAITs are only required to get 150 hours of education. That’s just 15-25% of the current MINIMUM standards.
- 150 vs 600 hours MINIMUM for traditional schools = 25%
- 150 hours and no more than 6 months vs 1000 hours + 12 months of time via Apprenticeship = 15% and half the time
2. Modifies exam requirements for Licensed Massage Therapy to accommodate these two undereducated LOWER tiers.
3. Gives both of these unqualified and unsafe lower tier therapists a functionally identical scope of practice to that of an actual Licensed Massage Therapist
- i. in spite of their lack of education and experience
- ii. and without any limiting language or specifications for MAITs as to how much, or which parts of their education must be completed before they begin hands-on work with clients.
4. TRIPLES the number of apprentices a Supervisor can have at once.
5. Changes the requirements for Supervision from direct to INDIRECT for CMAs.
6. Allow medical doctors, acupuncturists, and several other categories of professionals, who have little to no training whatsoever in Massage Therapy, to INDIRECTLY supervise up to 6 CMAs at a time.
7. Create conditions that will substantially increase the ease and access to and facilitation of sex trafficking, prostitution, solicitation, and exploitation.
Three other facts to consider:
1. This is NOT a turf war, as is being suggested by Senator Bramble. The vast majority of LMTs, Businesses, Supervisors, Educators, Program Directors, and Massage Schools would not only noy be negatively affected by this bill, but could actually financially profit from it.
In spite of that, all of us – as well as all of the major national organizations (AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB, etc.) that represent and protect the interests of Massage Therapy and Massage Therapists – are OPPOSED to SB.180.S01 It’s essentially an entire industry and all the members within vs. the literal handful of spa owners who are pushing for it.
This alone says a lot.
2. The basic entry point and working internships that advocates for SB.180.S01 say they want to create already exist. Traditional schooling for Licensed Massage Therapy can be completed in as little as 6-9 months vs. multi-year, multi-tiered apprenticeships in other trade industries, or vs. a traditional 4 year college – and at a fraction of the cost of either. And we already have an increasing plethora of Apprenticeships available for those who want to either just dip their toes in the water, or need to earn while they learn.
Licensed Massage Therapy is not only already easily accessible, but also incredibly affordable through both traditional schooling, as well via a working internship. There is no need to create a lower tier in order to facilitate what already exists.
3. Something as simple and common as a slipped vertebrae mistreated by a 2nd tier therapist could render you paraplegic. They could throw a clot and induce a stroke. Or spread ringworm, scabies, MRSA, and any other number of communicable diseases from one client to another 6 -8 clients per day for who knows how long because this 2nd tier therapist won’t have enough Pathology education to recognize them.
We regularly encounter countless contraindications that they simply won’t be qualified to handle which can result in everything running the gamut from minor injuries to permanent maiming.
We don’t say this to stoke fear, but to underscore the seriousness with which our standard of education needs to be considered -your health, safety, and wellbeing rely on that MINIMUM requirement to be enough. Right now it is. Under SB.180.S01 it won’t be – not by a long shot.
Keep Licensed Massage Therapy safe for you and our communities.
Please join our coalition which includes the local and national chapters of the AMTA, ABMP, and FSMTB - three of the largest organization tasked with protecting Massage Therapy and Massage therapists; as well as multiple members of the Utah Board of Massage Therapy, the majority of Massage school ownerships and program directors in Utah, dozens of business owners, scores of individual teachers and therapists, and thousands of consumers.
Sign this petition and then take up our call to action by contacting your representatives and their interns, as well as your local news desk.
Tell them to keep our communities safe, and OPPOSE SB 180.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
1. Find your representatives here: https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp
Contact information for their interns here: https://sharp-albattani-84f755.netlify.app
Let them know that you’re a constituent and tell them some of the reasons why you’re against SB 180 and want them to oppose it too.
- a. CALL
b. Email
c. Share with everyone you know and ask them to do the same
d. Call and Email your local news stations.
We need to make a LOT of noise on this ASAP
2. Join our protest on Monday, February 28, 2022 at the Capitol from 11-2pm. Event details here: https://facebook.com/events/s/protest-to-keep-massage-therap/664567131332255/
On behalf all of the Licensed Massage Therapist's who opposes this bill we thank you for your support!
3,696
The Issue
*UPDATED 3/14/2022 SB180.S03 is dead on a technicality. We continue to work towards fighting this as it could come back as early as Mid May. Please continue to sign and share the petition so our grass roots network is ready to respond and stop this.
We thank you for your continued support.
*UPDATED 2/26/2022 to reflect the most recent changes to the proposed bill
Keep Licensed Massage Therapy Safe in Utah
– OPPOSE Senate Bill.180.S01
This bill was created by two spa owners with maybe a dozen supporters, who are seeking to create a cheap, exploitable workforce for their personal benefit – and to the detriment of the health, safety, and well being of the public, as well as the denigration of the field of Massage Therapy itself.
This bill is OPPOSED by multiple local and national organization that represent Massage Therapy and the best interests of Massage Therapists (AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB, etc) as well as the owners and program directors of multiple massage schools (who arguably would financially benefit from this bill more than anyone), dozens of teachers, members of the Utah Board of Massage Therapy, the online team at Utah LMTs, and thousands of individuals both LMTs and the public alike.
These facts alone, should say a lot.
But here are some more details:
SB.180.S01
1. Creates TWO grossly undereducated, unqualified, and unsafe LOWER tiers of licensure for Massage Therapy.
i. “Certified Massage Assistants” (CMAs), and
ii. “Massage Assistants In Training” (MAITs).
iii. CMAs and MAITs are only required to get 150 hours of education. That’s just 15-25% of the current MINIMUM standards.
- 150 vs 600 hours MINIMUM for traditional schools = 25%
- 150 hours and no more than 6 months vs 1000 hours + 12 months of time via Apprenticeship = 15% and half the time
2. Modifies exam requirements for Licensed Massage Therapy to accommodate these two undereducated LOWER tiers.
3. Gives both of these unqualified and unsafe lower tier therapists a functionally identical scope of practice to that of an actual Licensed Massage Therapist
- i. in spite of their lack of education and experience
- ii. and without any limiting language or specifications for MAITs as to how much, or which parts of their education must be completed before they begin hands-on work with clients.
4. TRIPLES the number of apprentices a Supervisor can have at once.
5. Changes the requirements for Supervision from direct to INDIRECT for CMAs.
6. Allow medical doctors, acupuncturists, and several other categories of professionals, who have little to no training whatsoever in Massage Therapy, to INDIRECTLY supervise up to 6 CMAs at a time.
7. Create conditions that will substantially increase the ease and access to and facilitation of sex trafficking, prostitution, solicitation, and exploitation.
Three other facts to consider:
1. This is NOT a turf war, as is being suggested by Senator Bramble. The vast majority of LMTs, Businesses, Supervisors, Educators, Program Directors, and Massage Schools would not only noy be negatively affected by this bill, but could actually financially profit from it.
In spite of that, all of us – as well as all of the major national organizations (AMTA, ABMP, FSMTB, etc.) that represent and protect the interests of Massage Therapy and Massage Therapists – are OPPOSED to SB.180.S01 It’s essentially an entire industry and all the members within vs. the literal handful of spa owners who are pushing for it.
This alone says a lot.
2. The basic entry point and working internships that advocates for SB.180.S01 say they want to create already exist. Traditional schooling for Licensed Massage Therapy can be completed in as little as 6-9 months vs. multi-year, multi-tiered apprenticeships in other trade industries, or vs. a traditional 4 year college – and at a fraction of the cost of either. And we already have an increasing plethora of Apprenticeships available for those who want to either just dip their toes in the water, or need to earn while they learn.
Licensed Massage Therapy is not only already easily accessible, but also incredibly affordable through both traditional schooling, as well via a working internship. There is no need to create a lower tier in order to facilitate what already exists.
3. Something as simple and common as a slipped vertebrae mistreated by a 2nd tier therapist could render you paraplegic. They could throw a clot and induce a stroke. Or spread ringworm, scabies, MRSA, and any other number of communicable diseases from one client to another 6 -8 clients per day for who knows how long because this 2nd tier therapist won’t have enough Pathology education to recognize them.
We regularly encounter countless contraindications that they simply won’t be qualified to handle which can result in everything running the gamut from minor injuries to permanent maiming.
We don’t say this to stoke fear, but to underscore the seriousness with which our standard of education needs to be considered -your health, safety, and wellbeing rely on that MINIMUM requirement to be enough. Right now it is. Under SB.180.S01 it won’t be – not by a long shot.
Keep Licensed Massage Therapy safe for you and our communities.
Please join our coalition which includes the local and national chapters of the AMTA, ABMP, and FSMTB - three of the largest organization tasked with protecting Massage Therapy and Massage therapists; as well as multiple members of the Utah Board of Massage Therapy, the majority of Massage school ownerships and program directors in Utah, dozens of business owners, scores of individual teachers and therapists, and thousands of consumers.
Sign this petition and then take up our call to action by contacting your representatives and their interns, as well as your local news desk.
Tell them to keep our communities safe, and OPPOSE SB 180.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
1. Find your representatives here: https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp
Contact information for their interns here: https://sharp-albattani-84f755.netlify.app
Let them know that you’re a constituent and tell them some of the reasons why you’re against SB 180 and want them to oppose it too.
- a. CALL
b. Email
c. Share with everyone you know and ask them to do the same
d. Call and Email your local news stations.
We need to make a LOT of noise on this ASAP
2. Join our protest on Monday, February 28, 2022 at the Capitol from 11-2pm. Event details here: https://facebook.com/events/s/protest-to-keep-massage-therap/664567131332255/
On behalf all of the Licensed Massage Therapist's who opposes this bill we thank you for your support!
3,696
Petition created on February 14, 2022