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California Massage Therapy Council defends voluntary certification model as lawmakers and stakeholders press for oversight, transparency and court compliance
Summary
At a joint sunset hearing CAMTC defended the voluntary certification model and described enforcement work against illicit massage establishments, while lawmakers and many public commenters raised concerns about fee increases, transparency, school approvals and an ongoing court dispute involving a school named A to Z.
The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) faced sustained questioning from legislators and public commenters at the joint sunset review as it defended its voluntary certification model, enforcement partnerships with law enforcement and outreach, while opponents pressed for greater transparency and state licensure.
What CAMTC said Chair Mark Dixon and CEO Amos Netanyahu told the committees CAMTC was created by private initiative, has processed hundreds of thousands of applications without state funding, and works closely with local law enforcement and anti–human-trafficking organizations. Chair Dixon said CAMTC’s model provides "the agility of a private corporation to move fast, to protect the public" and argued that licensure would likely raise applicant fees and reduce local law-enforcement collaboration.
The council outlined accomplishments including a fraud-focused school review program, law-enforcement training partnerships, and rapid action in cases where local police report illicit activity. CEO Netanyahu said CAMTC "receives no funding from the state or any local jurisdiction" and emphasized the council’s work with local officials.
Points of contention at the hearing - Fees and transparency: Legislators pressed CAMTC on a recent fee study and an April 2023 fee increase (raising the two-year certification fee) and on CEO compensation. Committee members and some commenters said CAMTC’s process for commissioning a consultant and adopting a fee increase lacked timely notice to the legislature and to affected practitioners; CAMTC said the fee package was posted and followed its procedures but acknowledged the committee’s concerns about the timing and pledged to work more closely with oversight committees. - Schools, due process and A to Z litigation: Multiple speakers raised a heated, ongoing dispute involving a school (A to Z). Witnesses representing that school alleged CAMTC ignored court orders, conducted repeated interviews of graduates and used inconsistent hearing criteria; CAMTC said it has statutory and procedural authority to investigate allegations of fraud and that some allegations led to a proposed revocation letter (the council described allegations including forged transcripts and attendance records). Committee staff and members urged care in balancing prote ctions for students with investigatory needs; CAMTC said it is following counsel’s direction and that pending litigation means some actions are on appeal. - Human trafficking and enforcement partners: Several law-enforcement and anti-trafficking officials testified in favor of CAMTC’s model. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said CAMTC’s rapid enforcement actions and close coordination with police helped close an illicit parlor promptly and protect victims. Anti-trafficking service providers also supported CAMTC’s ongoing collaboration with local agencies.
Public comment split Hundreds of public commenters (in person and via submitted materials) were split: those aligned with CAMTC emphasized enforcement partnerships, rapid response to illicit-parlor complaints and victim protections; those critical of CAMTC urged state licensing, more consistent oversight of school approvals and better responsiveness to graduate certification applicants who say their files are stalled.
What the hearing did not decide The legislature did not adopt a statutory change at the hearing. Lawmakers asked CAMTC for follow-up on (1) communications to students at schools under investigation, (2) the process for appointing and compensating senior staff, (3) public-records and transparency issues, and (4) the resolution of the A to Z litigation. CAMTC agreed to continue engagement with the committees and local stakeholders.
