Brianna McCall, interim director of environmental health for the St. Joseph County Department of Health, presented proposed code‑book amendments to Chapter 113 covering massage establishments. The amendments aim to strengthen public‑health protections and reduce opportunities for human trafficking.

McCall described major elements of the draft ordinance: annual application and inspection requirements, a requirement that the licensed practitioner named on a permit be present at inspections and on site as the responsible licensee, a prohibition on living on the premises for licensed massage establishments, and increased administrative penalties (including closure and permit revocation) for repeat or significant violations.

“People who are already abiding by these things, it's not gonna be an issue for them to just provide the proof of that. They have to apply every year anyways, and have an annual inspection,” McCall said when committee members asked whether the rules would unduly burden legitimate businesses. She also told members the department estimates roughly 80 licensed establishments or licensed therapists in the county and said the department will provide a more concrete count before a future council meeting.

Council members asked whether the rules would grandfather existing establishments (McCall said no), how enforcement would work (annual inspections plus targeted complaint investigations), and how the new fine structure would change; McCall said she would provide the committee with the updated fine schedule at the next meeting.

Members raised zoning questions about accessory dwelling units at commercial properties; McCall said she would follow up with county planning on the interplay between the health code changes and county zoning rules.

A motion carried to send the code amendments favorably to the full council for final consideration.