THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2878
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MASSAGE THERAPY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 452-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§452-18 Sanitary rule. The [department of health] board [shall] may prescribe [such] sanitary rules as it deems necessary, with [particular] reference to the precautions necessary to be employed to prevent the creating and spreading of infectious and contagious diseases."

SECTION 2. Section 452-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§452-19 Penalties. [(a) Any person who practices massage or maintains a massage therapy establishment, or acts in any capacity wherein a license is required by this chapter, without a license provided for in this chapter, shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

(b)] Any owner, operator, manager, or licensee in charge of or in control of a massage therapy establishment who knowingly employs a person who is not licensed as a massage therapist or who has not received a permit as a massage therapist apprentice as provided in this chapter, or who allows an unlicensed person to perform, operate, or practice massage is guilty of a misdemeanor."

SECTION 3. Section 452-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall be fined not less than [$100] $250 nor more than [$1,000] $2,000 for each violation."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Massage Therapy; Massage Establishment; Chapter 452

Description:

Authorizes the Board of Massage Therapy to promulgate and enforce sanitation rules for massage establishments. Repeals section 452-19(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, in favor of existing statutes that already treat unlicensed activity as a misdemeanor. Increases the minimum fine from $100 to $250 and the maximum fine from $1,000 to $2,000 for each violation.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.