Local
Sen. Duff: new massage therapy law takes effect January 1
By Senator Duff's office
Dec 28, 2007 - 5:18:08 PM

State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today reminded officials and residents that a new law passed to help protect the image of the massage therapy industry and to keep illegal businesses out of the state’s communities will go into effect next week.

Public Act 07-35 requires any business that advertises its services as a massage therapist, or uses the terms “massage,” masseuse,” “massage therapy,” “massage therapist” or any other similar term implying a massage service, to have a valid Connecticut license and to require that license number to be included on all advertising materials.

The new law officially takes effect Tuesday, January 1, 2008. Prior to its passage, Senator Duff had championed efforts to enact these measures for two years.

“This law will not only help to protect our neighborhoods, our children and our families from unlawful activities, it will help to safeguard the image of legitimate massage therapy businesses,” Senator Duff said. “After two years of collaboration and work with members of the massage therapy industry, I’m glad to see this legislation take effect, and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have on communities across Connecticut.”

The new law is a response to raids on parlors and spas around the state that have found illegal activities such as prostitution, drug distribution and human trafficking. It creates more stringent regulations regarding the advertising of massage services.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) is responsible for enforcing the new regulation, and those establishments in noncompliance with the new law should be reported to the DPH or local law enforcement officials.

The bill was approved unanimously in the Senate and overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives. The governor signed the bill into law on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

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