Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety And Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislators press massage therapy board on human trafficking investigations, authority and funding
Summary
During the Joint Interim Committees session, legislators and board representatives debated whether the Alabama Massage Therapy Board needs broader investigative authority or better cooperation with law enforcement to shut down establishments used for prostitution and trafficking, and whether licensee-funded enforcement is appropriate.
Lawmakers at a Joint Interim Committees work session questioned whether the Alabama Massage Therapy Board has sufficient authority and resources to address prostitution and human trafficking tied to some massage establishments.
Committee members described repeated incidents in which local police have raided massage establishments suspected of prostitution, but board investigators lack the investigatory access or authority to collect evidence or participate in criminal investigations. A board representative who identified themself as a chief of policy with the Board of Nursing (and the designated interim executive director for the Massage Board) told the committee, "If you want us to shut down human traffickers, we would need to be able to participate in these investigations," and added that doing so would require additional authority and resources.
Legislators debated options. Representative Wilcock recommended appointing members with law enforcement backgrounds to the board: "I would actually submit due to the horrible nature of the trafficking tie in that both of those appointments have a background in law enforcement." Other members cautioned against giving board investigators full "police powers," warning that inserting additional actors into criminal investigations could jeopardize prosecutions.
Board and committee members described practical problems: when local police lead raids, board investigators have sometimes been asked to stay outside and are then unable to gather administrative evidence needed to pursue licensing sanctions. One committee member said, "If you just shut them down, then they can open up the next day under a new name," describing how operators can evade administrative sanctions without criminal charges. Committee members asked board counsel and staff to look at statutory language on evidence-sharing and possible cooperative models with law enforcement, and to bring clearer options to the committee at the next hearing.
The massage board's financial statements were also discussed. The board had an unobligated cash balance of $5,469 at the end of fiscal 2024, and committee members pointed out that addressing trafficking requires resources beyond what the board currently raises from licensees. A committee member said it may be inappropriate to expect reputable licensees to fund what could effectively be a law-enforcement operation.
Ending — Next steps: Committee members asked board staff and the Attorney General's Office to brief the committee tomorrow on legal options for evidence sharing, investigatory roles, and possible statutory changes; they also asked the board to detail resource needs and any proposals for cooperative enforcement with local law enforcement.
