Licensing and Regulation of Massage Therapists:
Notice of Proposed Regulations Changes
Board of Massage Therapists
Brief Description: The Board of Massage Therapists proposes to adopt new regulations relating to the licensing and practice of massage therapists, to implement new state statute in AS 08.61 by Chapter 114, SLA 2014 (HB 328).
The Board of Massage Therapists (Board) proposes to adopt new regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with all aspects of the licensing and practice of massage therapists under the authority of the Board. The proposed regulations address a wide range of subjects, including initial license application, transitional license, criminal justice information, license renewal, continuing education requirements, audit and documentation, code of ethics and standards of practice, definition of terms, and other provisions as necessary to implement Chapter 114, SLA 2014 (HB 328).
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806. Additionally, the Board will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2974 and by electronic mail at jun.maiquis@alaska.gov. The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 17, 2015.
Oral comments relevant to the proposed actions, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed action, may also be given at a hearing to be held during the July 22, 2015 meeting at the Atwood Building, 550 W. 7th Avenue, 1st Floor, Conference Room 104, Anchorage, Alaska. Written comments will not be accepted at the hearing. The hearing will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will end when those who have signed up before 1:00 p.m. to give oral testimony have had the opportunity to give oral comments. The chair of the Board may limit each participant’s length of oral testimony to a time limit, determined by the chair before the hearing begins, to allow enough time for all those present and timely registered to give testimony. If you wish to give your comments via telephone, please call 1-800-315-6338 access code 52538.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Karen Hudson, Licensing Supervisor, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 or by e-mail at karen.hudson@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Board will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and response available on the Board’s website at https://commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx or on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. The Board may, but is not required to, answer written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Jun Maiquis at (907) 465-2537 no later than July 10, 2015, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Jun Maiquis at the address or phone number above, or go to http://commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/MAS-0615.pdf
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Board’s website at https://commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx
After the public comment period ends, the Board will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments and questions received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory Authority: AS 08.01.010; AS 08.01.065; AS 08.01.100; AS 08.61
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 08.01.010; AS 08.01.065; AS 08.01.100; AS 08.61
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: 6/16/15
Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
For each occupation regulated under the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the Division keeps a list of individuals or organizations who are interested in the regulations of that occupation. The Division automatically sends a Notice of Proposed Regulations to the parties on the appropriate list each time there is a proposed change in an occupation's regulations in Title 12 of the Alaska Administrative Code. If you would like your address added to or removed from such a list, please send your request to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing at the address above and include your name, address, and the occupational area in which you are interested.
Licensing and Regulation of Massage Therapists:
Additional Regulations Notice Information
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Board of Massage Therapists – Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
2. General subject of regulation: Relating to the licensing and regulation of the Board of Massage Therapists.
3. Citation of regulation: 12 AAC 79.100 – 12 AAC 79.990.
4. Department of Law file number: To be assigned.
5. Reason for the proposed action: Compliance with new state statute.
6. Appropriation/Allocation: Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing – #2360.
7. Estimated costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:
a. Private Persons: $1,020 (application, initial biennial license, biennial license renewal, and fingerprint processing fees).
b. Other State Agencies: None known.
c. Municipalities: None known.
8. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars): No costs are expected in FY 2015 or in subsequent years.
9. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Karen Hudson, Licensing Supervisor
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Telephone: (907) 465-2691
E-mail: karen.hudson@alaska.gov
10. The origin of the proposed action: Board of Massage Therapists.
11. Date: 6/16/15
Prepared by: Jun Maiquis, Regulations Specialist