Bill Text: GA SB364 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Massage Therapist; conviction for sexual offense; license suspended for certain time periods; penalties
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2010-07-01 - Effective Date [SB364 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-SB364-Engrossed.html
10 LC 29 4231S
(SCS)
Senate
Bill 364
By:
Senators Staton of the 18th, Unterman of the 45th, Murphy of the 27th, Brown of
the 26th, Douglas of the 17th and others
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 24A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to massage therapy practice, so as to provide better control and
regulation of the practice of massage therapy; to provide for a definition; to
provide the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy with broader investigative powers;
to change and expand acts constituting violations of the chapter; to change
provisions relating to disciplinary actions; to clarify provisions relating to
local regulation of massage therapy; to increase punishment for violations of
the chapter; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date and
applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
24A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to massage
therapy practice, is amended in Code section 43-24A-3, relating to definitions,
by adding a new paragraph to
read
as follows:
"(4.1)
'Entity' means the owner or operator of a business where massage therapy for
compensation is
performed."
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code
Section 43-24A-7, relating to powers of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, as
follows:
"(3)
Conduct investigations for the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter
or grounds for disciplining persons
licensed
under
or entities
acting in violation of this
chapter. The
board and any designee of the board shall be authorized to conduct
investigations as deemed necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of this
chapter. An investigator conducting an investigation on behalf of the board
shall have access to and may examine and copy any writing, document, or other
material relating to the fitness of any licensee or applicant. The board or the
board's designee may issue subpoenas to compel access to such documents where
there is a reasonable basis for believing that a violation of this chapter has
occurred;"
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-24A-15, relating to
unlawful acts, as follows:
"43-24A-15.
(a)
It
is
shall
be a violation of this chapter for any
person or
entity to advertise massage therapy
services or to
advertise the offering of massage therapy
services unless such services are provided
by a person who holds a valid license under this chapter.
(b)
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to
advertise:
(1)
As a massage therapist unless the person holds a valid license under this
chapter in the classification so advertised; or
(2)
Massage therapy services combined with escort or dating services or adult
entertainment.
(c)
It shall be
unlawful
a violation of
this chapter for a person or
business
entity,
or
its
the
employees, agents, or representatives
of such person
or entity, to practice massage therapy or
to use in connection with
its
such person's
or entity's name or business activity the
terms 'massage,' 'massage therapy,' 'massage therapist,' 'massage practitioner,'
or the letters 'M.T.,' 'L.M.T.,' or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or
insignia indicating or implying directly or indirectly that massage therapy is
provided or supplied unless such massage therapy is provided by a massage
therapist licensed and practicing in accordance with this chapter.
(d)
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any entity to:
(1)
Advertise the offering of massage therapy services combined with escort or
dating services or adult entertainment; or
(2)
Employ unlicensed massage therapists to perform massage therapy.
(e)
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to practice massage
therapy without holding a current or provisional license as a massage therapist
in accordance with subsection (a) of Code Section 43-24A-8.
(f)
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person or entity, or the
employees, agents, or representatives of such person or entity, to render or
offer massage therapy services for compensation unless such massage therapy is
provided by a licensed massage
therapist."
SECTION
4.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-24A-17, relating to
disciplinary actions, as follows:
"43-24A-17.
(a)
The board
shall
may
take disciplinary action
in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 of this
title
against any
person or entity believed to be acting in violation of this
chapter.
(b)
The board may take any one or more of the following actions against a person or
entity found by the board to have committed a violation of this
chapter:
(1)
Reprimand or place the licensee on probation;
(2)
Revoke or suspend the license or deny the issuance or renewal of a
license;
(3)
Impose an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000.00 for each violation;
and
(4)
Assess costs against the violator for expenses relating to the investigation and
administrative action.
(c)
The board may assess collection costs and interest for the collection of fines
imposed under this chapter against any person or entity that fails to pay a fine
as directed by the
board."
SECTION
5.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-24A-22, relating to local
regulation, as follows:
"43-24A-22.
(a)
This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit a county or municipality from
enacting any regulation of persons not licensed pursuant to this chapter. No
provision of any ordinance enacted by a municipality, county, or other
jurisdiction that is in effect before July 1, 2005, and that relates to the
practice of massage therapy or requires licensure of a massage therapist may be
enforced against a person who is issued a license by the board under this
chapter.
(b)
Any place of business where massage therapy for compensation is performed shall
also be subject to regulation by local governing authorities with regard to
the:
(1)
Manner of operation of the business within the jurisdiction of the governing
authority;
(2)
Licensing of such business; and
(3)
Prevention of any threat to public health and
safety."
SECTION
6.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-24A-24, relating to fines
and punishments for violations, as follows:
"43-24A-24.
(a)
Any person who
practices
massage therapy without a valid license
acts
in violation of
this
chapter
Code Section
43-24A-15, upon conviction thereof, shall
be punished as provided in this Code section.
(b)
Each act of unlawful practice under this Code section shall constitute a
distinct and separate offense.
(c)
Upon being convicted a first time under this Code section, such person
or
entity shall be
guilty of and
shall be punished
by a fine
of not more than $500.00
as for a
misdemeanor for each offense.
Upon being
convicted a second time under this Code section, such person or entity shall be
guilty of and shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated
nature. Upon being convicted a
second
third
or subsequent time under this Code section, such person
or
entity shall be
guilty of a
felony and shall be punished by a fine of
not more than
$1,000.00
$25,000.00
for each offense, imprisonment for not
more than
12 months
less than one
nor more than five years, or
both."
SECTION
7.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2010, and shall apply to all offenses
which occur on and after that date.
SECTION
8.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.