On the legislative front, the AMTA-MA has filed legislation to address issues that our enabling legislation from 2006 did not address.  The AMTA-MA filed legislation, House Bill 2688, clarifies the definition of “massage”, tightens up the restrictions against the use of electronic means, establishes clearer boundaries for participating in sporting or charitable events and addresses the issue of using kinesio tape.  To that end, the AMTA-MA met with various legislative leaders and members of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, where our legislation was initially heard, and testified at the public hearing on the same.  

Mass Chapter supports the House Bill 2850 and Senate Bill 827, An Act Relative to the Commercial Exploitation of People.  This legislation will not only save innocent lives throughout the Commonwealth, it will have a profound impact on preventing certain individuals using legitimate professions, such as massage therapy, as a subterfuge for illicit activities.

The following letter was submitted by the chapter president Mary White to The Joint Committee on the Judiciary in support of a human trafficking bill being presented to the committee on May 18, 2011. Download the letter here.