Texas Senate Bill SB802

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to certain notice and license display requirements applicable to massage therapy.

Impact

Significantly, SB802 includes provisions requiring massage establishments and schools to prominently display notices concerning the services and help available to victims of human trafficking. These notices must be multilingual and include contact information for a referral hotline, aiming to bring awareness and support to victims in these vulnerable environments. This legislation reflects a proactive approach to combat human trafficking and enhance public awareness in the context of massage services.

Summary

SB802 focuses on amending regulations related to massage therapy licenses in Texas. The bill mandates that each licensed massage therapist display their photograph on their license, enhancing the identification of practitioners. This change aims to address accountability in the massage therapy profession while ensuring that clients can verify the identity of their service providers directly.

Contention

Notably, the bill is designed to be implemented by the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which holds the authority to create rules for compliance by January 1, 2020. While the intentions behind the bill are constructive, discussions around it might include questions about the adequacy of enforcement and the potential burden on small massage businesses regarding the additional requirements for signage and identification. Critics could express concern regarding the implications for privacy and the added administrative burden for therapists and establishments.