Today, Jan. 25th, the Public Health Committee passed SB10 which seeks the Licensure of Massage Therapist in Indiana.

This means it will be going to a full vote on the Senate floor, and you need to contact your Senator as soon as possible. The vote will likely not occur until the week of Feb 6th, as the Statehouse is not conducting business next week due to Superbowl activities. SO, YOU HAVE A BIT OF TIME, BUT THE SOONER, THE BETTER!

Today was the last day for any Bill to be heard, and while we did not get to make needed amendments, there is still time to do so as it moves along. It needs to be kept alive to make it to the House, then on to the Governors desk. Today, the Bill was amended to allow communities to continue to set their own license requirements. We do not agree with this, and have not given up on having it amended. We are in agreement that there should be stiffer penalities for violation, and there should be local police enforcement. We should not be subjected to outdated "adult entertainment" sort of laws which still exist in some communities.

Senator Sue Landske, Committee Chair Senator Patricia Miller and Senators present who voted in favor of the Bill really need to be thanked. We will have the roll call and additional information at a later point.

To find your Senator or read the Bill, go to www.in.gov/legislative . The Senate may be called at 800-382-9467, and the switchboard will relay your message if your Senator is not available. Of course, you may write as well.

Not certain of who to contact? You may find your own Legislator at:
http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup
To read SB 10, go to: http://www.state.in.us/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0010.1.html

It is important that we stress the fact that this is not new legislation, but we are seeking to improve the CMT Law which already exists.

This same Bill did pass out of the Public Policy Committee last session, and passed the Senate floor before it died in the walk out.

There is already a Massage Therapy Board, and the members are volunteers- they are not paid or reimbursed for their work.

This Bill is fiscally negligeable, and may actually save the State money.

Indiana has 4226 active CMT's, who are held to educational and ethical standards, although anyone may currently perform "massage" as long as the title is not used. You get the idea-I'm certain!!! During the hearing, after sharing the educational and other requirements of being a CMT, I pointed out that the "Right to Work" protestors could do massage in the Statehouse if they wished, or anyone could offer a massage to a Superbowl fan visiting the area.

I think it was thought provoking for a few of the committee members!