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MASSAGE
THERAPISTS: NOTE SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 DEADLINE
The most important and time-sensitive
matter is that a 90-day window of transition—essentially
a “grandfather clause”—has been granted to all therapists
currently holding permits. No fee is required
if you exchange your current S.F. massage therapy
permit before September 30, 2004. After that date,
you will have to start all over again (fees, fingerprints,
test, background check, etc.) So please, pay
attention to this information and take all necessary
steps to support yourself, your clients, and your
practice.
SPAS AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS:
READ
THE ORDINANCE
We suggest that spas and massage therapy
establishments read a full copy of the new ordinance.
CHECK BACK SOON
Over the coming days, we will add more information,
including instruction for exchanging your existing
permit and a detailed description of the application
process for new practitioners.
HIGHLIGHTS
OF NEW MASSAGE PERMIT LEGISLATION
On December 5, 2003, Mayor Willie Brown signed an
ordinance that created major revisions to the regulation
of massage therapy businesses and practitioners
in San Francisco.
Regulatory Authority
On July 1, 2004, regulatory authority and administration
of massage permits was transferred from the Hall
of Justice Permit Department under the Chief of
Police to the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Two Categories of Practitioner
Permits
The previous code defined only one class of massage
practitioner (masseur/masseuse) and required 70
hours of qualified massage therapy school training.
The new code defines two categories:
1) General massage therapy practitioner:
100 hours of certified education from a recognized
institution, school.
2) Advanced massage therapy practitioner:
200+ hours of certified massage therapy education
from a recognized institution(s), school.
Three Categories of Business Permits
Under this legislation, three categories of business
permit are available, the third of which is new:
1) Massage therapy establishment:
A fixed place of business where more than one person
carries on or engages in the practice of massage
therapy.
2) Outcall massage therapy service:
Any business not permitted as a massage therapy
establishment where the primary function of business
is to perform massage therapy not at a fixed location.
(i.e., at a client’s home, office, hotel, etc.)
3) Solo practitioner massage therapy establishment:
A fixed place of business where a person holding
an advanced massage therapy practitioner permit
carries on or practices massage therapy. May be
shared by two to four advanced massage therapy practitioners
or two to four massage therapy practitioners and
one or more health or healing arts practitioners
(chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc.).
Resources
The ordinance document is identified as file #030995,
entitled “Ordinance amending San Francisco Police
Code by repealing Article 27 (sections 2700 through
2737) and amending the San Francisco Health Code
and adding a new Article 29 (sections 1900 through
931), both Articles providing for the licensing
and regulation of massage therapy practitioners
and businesses, and establishing an operative date
for the ordinance.” For up-to-date information on
this ordinance, go to http://www.sfordinance.com.
Here are some links to specific documents, available
for download in RTF format, which can be read by
most word processors, or PDF (Adobe Reader) format.
Special thanks to TouchPro Institute for their legal
analysis and postings.
The
new San Francisco massage therapy ordinance, effective
July 1, 2004
• RTF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/newordinance.rtf
• PDF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/newordinance.pdf
The old San Francisco massage therapy ordinance
• RTF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/CurrentOrdinance.rtf
• PDF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/CurrentOrdinance.pdf
Analysis of the differences between the
old and new ordinances
• RTF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/legdigest.rtf
• PDF: http://www.touchpro.com/sford/docs/legdigest.pdf
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