HOUSE BILL NO. 1036

By Representatives Ritchie, Lois DeBerry

Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1429

By Senator Gilbert

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 18, Part 2, relative to massage therapists.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-18-205, is amended by adding the following as a new, appropriately designated subsection:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, due to special circumstances, any applicant who: (1) has been engaging in massage therapy on the premises of a non-profit health facility for not less than twenty-nine (29) years; (2) is legally blind; and (3) has five hundred (500) hours of documented experience as an unlicensed massage therapist before October 1, 1995 may make application to the Tennessee Massage Licensure Board for a license provided that verification of these qualifications is received by the board administrative office on or before October 1, 1997.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-18-205(b)(3), is amended by deleting item (D) in its entirety and by substituting instead the following:

(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, due to special circumstances, any applicant who:

(1) has been engaging in massage therapy for not less than fourteen (14) years;

(2) has complied with and received all appropriate local permits prior to October 1, 1995;

(3) is not less than fifty-eight (58) years of age; and

(4) has five hundred (500) hours of documented experience as an unlicensed massage therapist before October 1, 1995, may make application to the Tennessee Massage Licensure Board for a license provided that verification of these qualifications is received by the board administration office on or before October 1, 1997; or if application has already been made, the board shall reopen the file for normal processing without the imposition of any burden, fiscal or otherwise, not already imposed on any other applicant under ordinary circumstances.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.