The ruckus over CA AB 1822 is not yet over, though it has taken what CAMTC CEO Ahmos Netanel describes as a more positive approach than the bill as it was originally introduced. The CAMTC has still not spoken in favor of the bill, which would have virtually crippled the CAMTC and turned massage regulation back over to the localities.
Although much of the offensive language has been removed in the amended version of the bill, I am personally still offended that the proposed new rules call for two new CAMTC members, to be appointed by the Police Chief’s Association and the Sheriff’s Association. In other words, the Massage Police.
Does the medical association have such a requirement? I don’t think so. Does the chiropractic association, the nursing board, or the cosmetology board have such a requirement? Nope; just us hard-working professional massage therapists.
I don’t think it’s fair for us to be singled out in this manner.
AB 1822 went through this amendment process because of the huge outcry from massage therapists and industry supporters. I suggest that we need to keep on screaming until they get the message loud and clear: We are not prostitutes. We should not be subjected to a different set of rules that other boards and commissions are not bound to follow. It’s demeaning and it implies that they’re just lying in wait for us to screw up, no pun intended.
I hope that the CAMTC will continue to withhold their support of this bill, even in its amended form, and that the rank and file will rally again and insist that they do not have to have the Massage Police breathing down their neck by demanding seats on the council.
Any and all public boards and commissions that are created for the credentialing of professionals and protection of the public should have the expectation of a good working relationship with law enforcement, and when they are all required to have law enforcement actually sitting on their boards, I’ll support them sitting on the CAMTC. Until then, I can’t be in support of this prejudicial requirement, and I hope the CAMTC refuses to support it as well.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
May 29th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
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May 29th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
I wish the AMTA-CA would not support this bill either, but apparently they are rolling over like beta dogs. At the risk of sounding clichéd, Massage Therapists need to stand strong and united at the grassroots level to demand the end of the exploitation of our profession.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Hi Lisa -
While I am in no way thrilled by the prospect of law enforcement sitting at the CAMTC Board table, I have often heard criticism of industries that self-regulate to the exclusion of differing points of view. Law enforcement, often historically antagonistic to the interests of the massage profession, has demonstrated already (in the person of a retired LAPD Vice Commander who sits on the CAMTC Board and directs its Denial and Discipline Committee) how sympathetic expertise can be an invaluable resource when seeking to allow only qualified, law-abiding practitioners to become certified.
The timeless wisdom of Abraham Lincoln led him to appoint his foes to his Cabinet, the better to educate them as well as to scrutinize their actions.
May 30th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
In my opinion, the reason the AMTA is behind this bill, is that their spin-off, the National Test, will be a requirement for all therapists.
May 31st, 2010 at 11:20 am
The AMTA-CA is not behind AB 1822. The sponsor of the bill is the California Police Chief Association. SB 731 now the Massage Certification Act encoded into law as California Business and Professions Code Section 4600 et al does NOT require the NCMTBE for certification. Rather, passage of either of the two national exams is ALLOWED as alternate proof of educational competence.
And no way that the AMTA-CA could be characterized as “rolling over like beta dogs.” The AMTA-CA hired lobbyists to represent opposition to AB 1822 and collaborated with other organizations such as the ACLU, the Hotel & Motel Association, the California Chiropractic Association each of whom had lobbyists opposing this bill. And of course the actions of individuals both AMTA-CA members and members of other professional Massage Associations as well as members of the public to send emails and letters of opposition cannot be so easily dismissed.
As Laura pointed out, the most regressive language in AB 1822 has been removed. And the AMTA-CA is still leading the fight to amend the requirement about the Massage Establishment Permits on top of business licensing.
As Aristotle said : “The perfect is often the enemy of the good.”
May 31st, 2010 at 12:28 pm
The AMTA does not have a national test of any kind nor do they have any plans for one that I am aware of. The NCBTMB has the National Certification Exams and the FSMTB has the MBLEx, and all of these entities would like to see the therapists in CA treated fairly and respectfully.
June 12th, 2010 at 10:25 am
So people are upset that law enforcement will be a part of the board? Is anyone also a bit peeved by the live scan fingerprint requirement? How many professions (besides education) have this requirement?
I am a single therapist in my office in a small rural town. The past couple of years have resulted in an inconceivable drop-off in my business. My net for 2009 was less than 1,000 dollars. I do support the idea of statewide certification but the cost of fingerprinting, testing and registration fees is unlikely to be supported by my “micro-business”. So the small people are forced out of business and the rural areas lose. I doubt anyone has considered this result. So what else is new….