Legislators, law enforcement and stakeholders debate CAMTC’s role amid lawsuits, fee hikes and calls for licensure

The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) faced intense scrutiny at the joint sunset review hearing for its voluntary certification model, recent fee and compensation actions, enforcement practices and an ongoing court dispute with a school operator that has been central to public comment.

Board and staff presentation: Mark Dixon, chair of the CAMTC board of directors, and Amos Netanel, CAMTC chief executive officer, described CAMTC as a public‑benefit nonprofit that has certified more than 50,000 massage professionals and taken more than 13,000 disciplinary actions. CAMTC representatives said the voluntary certification model enables rapid collaboration with local law enforcement and local governments and argued licensing by a state board would be less nimble and far costlier for practitioners.

"I believe the legislature made the right choice when they authorized a certification program for massage professionals rather than licensure," CAMTC Chair Mark Dixon said, arguing that licensure would make certification "far more expensive" and slow enforcement.

Law enforcement and anti‑trafficking support: Several local law enforcement leaders and anti‑trafficking advocates testified in favor of CAMTC, saying the council's partnerships allow quick enforcement responses and help shut down illicit massage establishments. Jeff Rosen, District…