Existing law authorizes the Board of Massage Therapy to issue a license to practice massage therapy and sets forth the requirements that an applicant for a license must satisfy in order to become licensed. (NRS 640C.580) Section 1 of this bill adopts the Interstate Massage Compact, creating a multistate license with uniform licensing requirements, including a national licensing examination, for use by licensees in all member states. The Compact requires that, in order to be eligible to join the Compact and maintain eligibility as a member state, a state must: (1) license and regulate the practice of massage therapy; (2) have a mechanism or entity in place to receive and investigate complaints from the public, regulatory or law enforcement agencies or the Interstate Massage Compact Commission about licensees practicing in that state; (3) accept passage of a national licensing examination as a criterion for massage therapy licensure in that state; (4) require that licensees satisfy educational requirements before being licensed; (5) implement procedures for requiring background checks for a multistate license and other reporting requirements; (6) have continuing competence requirements; (7) participate in the Compact's data system; (8) notify the Commission and other member states of any disciplinary action taken against a licensee practicing under a multistate license; (9) comply with any rules of the Commission; and (10) accept licensees with valid multistate licenses from other member states. An applicant for a multistate license must: (1) hold a license to practice massage therapy in a member state; (2) complete 625 hours of massage therapy education or the substantial equivalent; (3) pass a national licensing examination or the substantial equivalent; (4) submit to and pass a background check; and (5) pay all required fees. The Compact: (1) establishes the Interstate Massage Compact Commission as a joint governmental agency whose membership consists of all member states; and (2) provides for the Commission's rules and governance. The Compact also establishes a data system, provided for by the Commission, and requires member states to submit uniform data to the data system on all individuals to whom the Compact is applicable. The Compact provides additional provisions to carry out the Compact, including providing procedures for the taking of adverse actions against licensees, provisions for active military members or their spouses, provisions for rulemaking by the Commission, provisions for oversight and dispute resolution and procedures for amendments and withdrawals. The Compact takes effect on the date on which the Compact is enacted into law by the seventh member state. Existing law provides that four members of the Board of Massage Therapy constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting the business of the Board. (NRS 640C.180) Section 2 of this bill increases the number of board members needed to constitute a quorum from four to five.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 640C.180
Reprint 1: 640C.180
BDR: 640C.180