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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of certain massage therapy instruction |
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using distance learning. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 455.156, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) An applicant for a license under this section must be an |
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individual and: |
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(1) present evidence satisfactory to the department |
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that the person has satisfactorily completed massage therapy |
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studies in a 500-hour minimum, supervised course of instruction in |
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a manner provided by Subsection (c) [provided by a massage therapy |
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instructor at a massage school, a licensed massage school, a |
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state-approved educational institution, or any combination of |
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instructors or schools], in which at least: |
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(A) 200 hours are taught by a licensed massage |
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therapy instructor and dedicated to the study of massage therapy |
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techniques and theory and the practice of manipulation of soft |
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tissue, with at least 125 hours dedicated to the study of Swedish |
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massage therapy techniques; |
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(B) 50 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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anatomy; |
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(C) 25 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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physiology; |
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(D) 50 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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kinesiology; |
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(E) 40 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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pathology; |
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(F) 20 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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hydrotherapy; |
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(G) 45 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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massage therapy laws and rules, business practices, and |
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professional ethics standards; |
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(H) 20 hours are dedicated to the study of |
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health, hygiene, first aid, universal precautions, and |
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cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and |
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(I) 50 hours are spent in an internship program; |
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(2) pass the required examinations; and |
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(3) be at least 18 years of age. |
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(c) The hours of instruction required by Subsection (b) must |
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be provided by a massage therapy instructor at a massage school, |
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licensed massage school, state-approved educational institution, |
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or any combination of instructors or schools. The hours of |
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instruction required by Subsections (b)(1)(B)-(H) may be provided |
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using distance learning. Distance learning is not limited to live |
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instruction. |
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SECTION 2. An applicant for a massage therapist license may |
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satisfy the requirements of Sections 455.156(b)(1)(B)-(H), |
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Occupations Code, using distance learning as provided by Section |
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455.156(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, regardless of |
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whether the application is submitted before, on, or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules necessary |
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to implement the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |