Tuesday, March 9, 2021

No Happy Endings for Massage Therapy Bill

 Massage therapists and law enforcement can breathe a sigh of relief.  A bill that would have abolished the Board of Massage Therapists and all licensure requirements for massage therapists died in a Senate committee last week, truly a happy ending. 

 HB #1315 relaxes occupational license requirements for some professions.  The bill dissolves all licenses for professional art therapists, auctioneers, interior designers, wigologists, and massage therapists.   History and text of bill.

Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn sponsored the original bill.  That bill did not include massage therapy but terminated license requirements for funeral home operators.  That little act of abolition drew no small amount of attention. The committee removed all language about funeral homes but inserted a new Section 10 in the committee substitute bill: 

Sections 73-67-1, 73-67-3, 73-67-5, 73-67-7, 73-67-9, 73-67-11, 73-67-13, 73-67-15, 73-67-17, 73-67-19, 73-67-21, 73-67-23, 73-67-25, 73-67-27, 73-67-29, 73-67-31, 73-67-33, 73-67-35, 73-67-37 and 73-67-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, which create the Mississippi Professional Massage Therapy Act and the State Board of Massage Therapy, are repealed.

The bill passed the House.  The bill outraged massage therapists as well as some law enforcement officials.  They said it would encourage prostitution and sex trafficking.  The bill died in the Senate Committee on Accountability, Efficiency, and Transportation on March 2. 

Kingfish note:  What is interesting is several conservative groups such as Empower Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Public Policy praised the bill's passage in the House.  Interesting because they listed the professions affected by the bill but conveniently left out massage therapists.   



27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stupid license for a profession that shouldn't be licensed. Why do you even care, caped crusader KF?

Anonymous said...

They introduce this bill or one like it each session so these “therapists” will come to Jackson and “lobby” them. Check the records, it also includes a bill virtually each session with new regulations for hair stylists, etc.

Kingfish said...

Prostitution and sex trafficking. It will make it much harder to stop. Not to mention you are getting into health care to some degree. Yeah, I know, someone can sue. That means you had to suffer a real injury first and the goal of licensure in the health care field is to prevent injuries from happening to some degree.

And its an interesting story as they tried to sneak it through.

Anonymous said...

" Massage therapists "

Roads & Bridges, Tax, Law Enforcement and gawd knows how many other serious issues that should be addressed, the legislature spends our money debating:

" Massage therapists "

Anonymous said...


I'm all for doing whatever is required to abolish sex trafficking,
but prostitution is a different argument.

It can't be legislated.

(Unless less the state follows the Nevada model . . . controlled brothels and such). Not much different than the marijuana debate.

But even that wouldn't completely eliminate the pimps and their "stff".

People will pay for whatever they want . . . legal or not.





Anonymous said...

wtf do interior designers need a license?

Anonymous said...

If you are savvy the you can still get tugged at the local AMP just like you can still buy a bag of Yahweh’s herbs despite the legislature.

Anonymous said...

More government!

YAY.

Anonymous said...

This has nothing to do with massage therapists, or interior designers, funeral homes, etc. This is a pi**ing contest between the Senate and the House; between Dilbert and Philip.

Gunn is mad because the Senate won't follow his commands on the tax swap bill he calls a tax cut. So, he's killing everything from the other side. Delbert is mad because Gunn dropped his tax swap bill without any consultation other than talking for years about a tax cut. Now, the House is shooting down everything from the Senate. So therefore, the Senate will shoot down the House's pet bills.

Amazing how quickly things change; last year they cozied up together, Philip and Delbert (along with Philip cozing up with the black caucus) to take over the COVID money from Tate. But now, they are back to the normal jealousies across the rotunda with the two sides thinking the other are the bad guys.

Ridiculous, they can't even agree on simple crap like doing away with the licensing of interior designers - something they established only a few years ago.

But that's what you get when egos and ambitions get in the way. Time to pull your act together fellows. Do a reasonable tax cut, quit cowtowing to everything Empower/AFP sends your way, and go home. Time to be able to let the women and children back out on the streets before the girlfriends get jealous of the other girlfriends.

Anonymous said...

I thought I was pretty savvy...but, what is a stff - As in pimps and their stff? Be delicate.

Anonymous said...

" This is a pissing contest between between
Dilbert and Philip. "

That's the best explanation of the 2021 Legislative
shenanigans I've heard.

My money is on Hosemann.

Gunn reminds me of the three year old toddler screaming and throwing
toys all over the room when he doesn't get his way.









Anonymous said...

" wtf do interior designers need a license? "

Ordering the wrong wall paper can get very ugly, (not to mention a slightly different shade of carpet color ).

Anonymous said...

Fish is right. Sure there are other pressing issues but the work can't stop there. Prostitution and the other elements that potentially arise from no regulation pose a danger to society. It's important.

KF, you've got the cream of the crop bunch of trolls in your blog everyday. I often wonder if you enjoy it or grimace at any point when you realize we're surrounded by Rankin / Madison "better than you idiots in Jackson" clientele.

Have some of these "get out while you can" opinionated buffoons do some research on what happens to attached counties of failing cities so that they don't get TOO comfortable with the idea of the Jackson going full "Detroit".

They'll be forced to move right when they they think they've reached an untouchable level of comfort. Poison spreads when it's poured out on a table.

Anonymous said...

I see what you did there....

Anonymous said...

"Licensure cuts down on prostitution and human trafficking" Bullshit. As if someone going in for a "rub and tug" asks for a license much less MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION compliance certificates.

Anonymous said...

Doctors don’t need licenses. Neither do lawyers. Neither do architects or builders.

If the house you live in collapses because of a bad architect, the free market will take care of it!

If your neurosurgeon takes a chunk out of your brain, the free market will take care of it!

All hail the mighty free market! Bow down and worship the majestic free market! What are you, some kind of liberal?

Anonymous said...

@8:19
In Anarcho-Capitalist (An-Cap) schools of thought, a “pact” or contract ensures you receive quality service. It will include the recourse and compensation on both sides for failure to deliver. Just like the NAP or Non Aggression Pact prevents your neighbor from deploying his privately owned tactical nuclear weapons on your property. Go read some Murray Rothbard or visit the Mises Institute online library and educate yourself before you embarrass yourself again.

Anonymous said...

EmpowerMS and Mississippi Center for Public Policy are not conservative groups, no matter how much they say they are. They are Libertarian organizations, which means they lean left and that is a far cry from conservative. They also get Democrats to sponsor many of their bills like John Horne did with SB 2792 which would have allowed persons convicted of violent crimes to get occupational licenses. This is a tactic Joel Bomgar and other libertarians use because the rank and file republicans won’t support it. Wake up people. Democrats aren’t your problem in Mississippi because there aren’t enough of them to matter in the legislature. It’s these libertarian organizations which also includes AFP.

Anonymous said...

8:19 one of the definitions of a key-board moron these days is one who comments but doesn’t have the common sense to fact check their stupid comments. You posted on a social media page so that means you have a computer.
Like many other professionals, attorneys must have a license before they can practice law in any state. While license requirements differ slightly from state to state, all states make it illegal to engage in the practice of law without first obtaining a license.

All doctors must be licensed by the state in which they practice, which requires completing medical school and passing an exam. Doctors can choose to specialize in a particular aspect of medical practice by completing a residency or fellowship in that specialty and obtaining certification.

In the United States, it's illegal to call yourself an architect unless you have been licensed by a state—a process requiring a degree in architecture, years of apprenticeship, and a grueling multipart exam. Yet unlicensed “architects” doing the work of architects abound—they call themselves designers.

Mississippi. Whether you are a residential or commercial contractor, if your projects exceed $50,000 you are required by the state to hold a license. You also need to: Show proof of insurance like General Liability and Workers Compensation, if you have employees.

Anonymous said...

9:57 you don’t have the keenest eye for sarcasm do you

Anonymous said...

Libertarianism is a religion, which is ironic because many libertarians claim to be atheists. Their ideology is their savior. It can do magical and mystical things no one else can, this “invisible hand of the market place”. It really is delusional. I support capitalism but you lose me when you say the minimum wage should be zero or there should be no borders or environmental regulations etc etc etc.

Anonymous said...

9:57 - true enough. But the same concept you preach applies now to barbers, and interior designers, and many hundreds of other ?professional organizations" who's one and only purpose is to limit competition by "their" licensing rules and requirements.

If you get a bad haircut, it will grow back in a few weeks and at that point go to another barber. (And yes, I've heard all about the sanitiation requirements, etc. They would still exist, and be enforced by the Dept of Health. The 'barber board' just like the cosmotology board exists to keep the competition at bay by those that are already "licensed".)

I agree with the comment above about MCCP, Empower and AFP being Libertarian rather than the "conservative" that they claim to be. And their position on licensing seems to vary depending on what group they are talking about - want to eliminate licensing requirements, but at the same time crow about the new licensing they pushed for the eye folks and the nurse practicioners. And the criminals that they want to give occupational licenses on release because they want them released so as to not use 'their tax dollars' (as if nobody else but them pays taxes) to keep folks in jail.

Lets get rid of a lot of the boards and commissions that are unnecessary and serve no good except to stifle competition. And lets realize that when one goes to a CPA for tax advice, they aren't going to look at the state license framed on the wall but rather the advanced degree from xyz University of a Master of Taxation. Same with your lawyer - anybody with sense isn't looking at their MS Bar admission, meaning they passed the MS Bar exam, paid their fees and go to convention every year to 'earn' their required CLE's - but you want to see if the diploma on the wall is from Texas Southern University or from UM or from Virginia Law School. If the lawyer graduated from a reasonable law school then the fact they have a MS Bar "license" means their check didn't bounce when they paid their annual dues

Anonymous said...

@10:41 PM
Thats okay. We don’t want any low IQ statists like you in our High Trust Capitalist Utopia anyway.

Libertarian Frog says: Hippity Hoppity stay the hell off my property!

Anonymous said...

Libertarians aren’t all athiests. But most of us are suspicious of organized religion. The reason goes all the way back to the hunter-gathering days of humanity.
See, back then the shaman would sit around camp with the working women eating mushrooms and tripping out while contributing nothing to the society except news superstition. This tradition passed on to temple priests who would eat the sacrifices and collect the tithes and on and on up until today with preachers living off the produce of others. All for what? More worthless superstition!

Anonymous said...

Landscapers are also licensed.

Anonymous said...

Can I still make sausage at home without a license? Asking for a neighbor who raises possums.

Anonymous said...

Here are the two possible reasons to abolish the massage therapy board and license requirements:

1). Your elected officials are much dumber than first thought. You can get hurt by a massage therapist. They should be trained, regulated and held accountable.

2). It is nothing more than a "shakedown" by your elected officials.




Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.