The undersigned are opposed to Senate Bill S00090 for the following reasons.

1. There is no evidence that the public will be protected by requiring 900 hours of study to be licensed. Since the current standard is adequate to protect the public, this legislation should be dismissed.

2. Raising the requirement for a massage license to 900 hours is detrimental to the industry as it increases the cost of education, thereby restricting access to the profession for many people who are seeking to improve their lives.

3. The reduction of trained therapists as a result of raising the hours to 900 will severely impact the spa, massage and resort industry in the state as the lack of trained therapists will raise the expense of providing services, forcing many of them out of business and thereby leading to a further loss of opportunity for new therapists as well as existing therapists.

4. The reduction of trained therapists in the state will also increase the cost of massage for the public. This does harm the public as they are unable to afford preventive stress reducing care that can improve health or at the very least, reduce stress related illness.

To allow this bill to move forward is both unnecessary and detrimental to future therapists, massage, spa and resort businesses and the general public. Therefore we respectfully request that this bill not be allowed to move out of committee.

Thank you.

Sponsor

Links