FL Bill Would Impose New Requirements for Massage Establishments

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Florida Senate Bill 500 (and companion bill: House Bill 7005, affecting massage establishments, has been scheduled for a hearing in the state legislature.* Current law requires that all massage establishments, defined as “a site or premises, or portion thereof, wherein a massage therapist practices massage,â€￾ must have a state-issued license in order to operate.* HB 7005 proposes to add requirements that a person operating a massage establishment may not: (1) operate a massage establishment between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, unless the massage establishment is a health care facility or hotel, or unless all massages are performed under the supervision of a physician or other specified health care professional, or (2) use the establishment, or permit it to be used, as a principal domicile, unless it is zoned under a local ordinance for residential use.* Any person violating these requirements would guilty of a misdemeanor for the first offense, and a third degree felony for subsequent offenses.
The language of the bill states that while the legislature recognizes that the majority of massage establishments are operated by law-abiding citizens, a small number are operated in order to conduct illegal activity, such as human trafficking.* The text of the bill states that it is the legislature’s intent to protect the public, and the massage profession, from those establishments that engage in illegal activity.

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