summary
Introduced
12/13/2023
12/13/2023
In Committee
01/04/2024
01/04/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/08/2024
03/08/2024
Introduced Session
2024 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to health care practitioners and massage therapy; amending s. 456.026, F.S.; requiring that a certain annual report required of the Department of Health include specified data; amending s. 456.074, F.S.; requiring the department to immediately suspend the license of massage therapists and massage establishments under certain circumstances; requiring the department to suspend the license of any person or entity under its jurisdiction under certain circumstances; amending s. 480.033, F.S.; revising and providing definitions; amending s. 480.035, F.S.; revising quorum requirements for the Board of Massage Therapy; amending s. 480.043, F.S.; revising certain rules the board is required to adopt; prohibiting sexual activity and certain related activities in massage establishments; specifying prohibited conduct by establishment owners and employees; providing requirements for outside windows and signs in massage establishments; providing exceptions; providing employee dress code requirements, with an exception; requiring massage establishments to maintain certain employment records in English or Spanish; requiring that specified information be recorded before an employee may provide services or treatment; requiring massage establishments to conspicuously display a photo and specified information for each employee; requiring that such photos and information be displayed before an employee may provide services or treatment; providing for such requirements in massage establishments within public lodging establishments; requiring massage establishments to maintain customer and patient records, in English or Spanish, for services and treatment provided in the massage establishment; providing that medical records satisfy certain requirements; requiring massage establishments to maintain such records for a specified timeframe; requiring massage establishments to collect and record specified information; requiring massage establishments to confirm the identification of a customer or patient before providing services or treatment; amending s. 480.0465, F.S.; revising advertising requirements and prohibitions for massage therapists and massage establishments; amending s. 480.0475, F.S.; prohibiting massage establishments from being used as a temporary domicile for, to shelter or harbor, or as sleeping quarters for any person, with an exception; amending s. 480.0535, F.S.; requiring the department’s investigators to request valid government identification from all employees while in a massage establishment; specifying additional documents that a person operating a massage establishment must immediately present, upon request, to department investigators and law enforcement officers; requiring the department to notify a federal immigration office if specified persons in a massage establishment fail to provide valid government identification; amending s. 823.05, F.S.; providing criminal penalties; providing appropriations and authorizing positions; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill aims to strengthen regulations and oversight of massage therapists and massage establishments in Florida. Key provisions include:
- Requiring the Department of Health to include more detailed data about complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions related to massage therapists and establishments in its annual report.
- Authorizing the immediate suspension of licenses for massage therapists and establishments in certain circumstances, such as if an owner or employee is convicted of a sex-related crime.
- Defining new terms like "sexual activity" and "employee" as they relate to massage establishments.
- Imposing new requirements on massage establishments, such as prohibiting sexual activity, having certain window and signage requirements, requiring employee dress codes and identification, and maintaining detailed records of clients and services.
- Increasing penalties for massage establishments that violate the law.
- Appropriating funding and authorizing new positions at the Department of Health to implement the new requirements.
The overall intent of the bill is to crack down on human trafficking and other illicit activities that may be occurring in some massage establishments in Florida.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (1)
Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Last Action
Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 197 (on 03/05/2024)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
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