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Committee split over standalone fingerprint bill for massage therapists
Summary
Senate Bill 234, which would require fingerprint background checks for all Montana massage therapists, drew support from industry proponents but opposition from the Department of Labor and Industry, which said the FBI will not approve a stand-alone statewide ORI for all licensees and urged combining the requirement with the interstate compact.
HELENA — The Montana Senate Business and Labor Committee on Wednesday heard Senate Bill 234, a measure that would require fingerprint-based criminal background checks for massage therapists licensed in Montana.
Sponsor Senator Willis Curdy, R-Missoula, told the committee he filed the bill to address unlicensed operations and cited local incidents. "We have a problem with unlicensed massage therapist," Curdy said, recounting encounters while campaigning.
Deborah Kimmet, representing the Business League for Massage Therapy and Bodywork, urged the committee to combine SB234 with the interstate compact bill (SB233) so that fingerprinting applies to compact…
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