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