Assembly Bill 1014 seeks to ratify and enter Wisconsin into the Interstate Massage Compact, which facilitates the practice of massage therapy across member states. The bill establishes an Interstate Massage Compact Commission, composed of representatives from each member state's licensing boards, which will oversee the compact's operations, including the creation of bylaws and rules. It allows licensed massage therapists to obtain a multistate license, enabling them to practice in all compact states, provided they meet specific criteria such as educational requirements and a clean criminal record. The compact also includes provisions for a coordinated database to track licensure and disciplinary actions, as well as mechanisms for resolving disputes between member states.

The bill includes several amendments and new sections to existing statutes, notably creating definitions and clarifying the roles of the massage therapy and bodywork therapy credentialing board. Key insertions include the definitions of "authorization to practice" and "multistate license," as well as provisions that protect the credentialing board from employment discrimination based on conviction records. Additionally, the bill repeals certain existing statutes related to massage therapy and renumbers others to align with the new compact framework. The compact will take effect once seven states enact the same language, and it allows for amendments and withdrawal under specified conditions.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 146.81(1)(hp), 146.81, 146.997(1)(d)13, 146.997, 440.03(13)(c)2, 440.03, 446.01(1v)(o), 446.01, 460.01(intro.), 460.01, 460.01(2m)