BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1562 By: Hernandez Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of the potential for human trafficking at massage therapy schools. Current law governing massage therapy in Texas does not require massage student permits to contain a photograph of the student, and the bill author further informed the committee that this lack of photo identification may make it easier for human traffickers to use the same permit for multiple survivors. H.B. 1562 seeks to help combat human trafficking in the massage therapy industry by requiring a permit held by a massage school student to contain a photograph of the student's face. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill. ANALYSIS H.B. 1562 amends the Occupations Code to include in the required contents of a permit held by a student enrolled in a massage school in Texas a photograph of the student's face. The bill requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1562
By: Hernandez
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1562
By: Hernandez
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of the potential for human trafficking at massage therapy schools. Current law governing massage therapy in Texas does not require massage student permits to contain a photograph of the student, and the bill author further informed the committee that this lack of photo identification may make it easier for human traffickers to use the same permit for multiple survivors. H.B. 1562 seeks to help combat human trafficking in the massage therapy industry by requiring a permit held by a massage school student to contain a photograph of the student's face.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1562 amends the Occupations Code to include in the required contents of a permit held by a student enrolled in a massage school in Texas a photograph of the student's face. The bill requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee of the potential for human trafficking at massage therapy schools. Current law governing massage therapy in Texas does not require massage student permits to contain a photograph of the student, and the bill author further informed the committee that this lack of photo identification may make it easier for human traffickers to use the same permit for multiple survivors. H.B. 1562 seeks to help combat human trafficking in the massage therapy industry by requiring a permit held by a massage school student to contain a photograph of the student's face.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1562 amends the Occupations Code to include in the required contents of a permit held by a student enrolled in a massage school in Texas a photograph of the student's face. The bill requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.