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Relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy;
requiring a student permit; authorizing fees.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 1865 would create a massage therapy student permit required for any student enrolled in massage school; require criminal background checks for massage therapy license applicants and renewals; and repeal the exemption from licensing for students who provide massage therapy as part of an internship or otherwise without compensation. The bill would additionally require massage therapy schools to maintain monthly progress reports on each student of the school and to notify The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation upon a student's completion of the program.
Texas Action opposes HB 1865 for violating the principles of limited government, individual liberty and free markets. This is a wholly unnecessary bill which would drastically increase barriers to entry for the massage therapy profession. While we recognize that this bill is aimed at preventing human trafficking, there is simply no reason why massage therapy interns or students should be required to apply to the state for a specific permit or license. Texas should instead pursue meaningful de-licensing and de-regulation in order to promote individual liberty and free markets in the state.
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