Bill > HB232

This bill establishes the Interstate Massage Compact (IMC), a multi-state agreement designed to streamline massage therapy licensing across participating states. The bill increases the required educational hours for massage therapists from 500 to 625 hours and authorizes the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy to administer the compact. Key provisions include creating a multistate licensing system that allows qualified massage therapists to practice across member states more easily, establishing an Interstate Massage Compact Commission to oversee the program, and implementing a comprehensive data system to track licensees. The compact aims to improve public access to massage therapy services, enhance regulatory oversight, prevent fraud, and support licensed professionals, particularly military members and their spouses. Massage therapists seeking a multistate license must meet specific requirements, including passing a national licensing examination, submitting to background checks, and maintaining a clean professional record. The compact provides a framework for investigating and addressing potential misconduct across state lines, with the home state retaining primary disciplinary authority. The bill represents a significant effort to modernize and standardize massage therapy regulation by creating a more mobile and interconnected licensing system.

Business and Industry

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69837