Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Prague discusses draft ordinance to license massage therapists; council leans to routine renewals and compliance checks
Summary
Council members reviewed a draft local ordinance to license massage therapists, debating whether to require per-license public hearings, how often to renew (annual vs. two-year), background-check depth and how to enforce compliance; staff will revise the draft and send it to the city attorney.
City planning staff presented draft language for a local massage-therapist licensing ordinance intended to verify education, require certain documentation and allow background checks and license suspension or revocation where appropriate.
Council members representing or familiar with the profession said licensing legitimizes massage therapy and suggested care in how often renewals and checks are required so as not to unduly target legitimate practitioners. Several members favored a two-year renewal cycle to reduce administrative burden, while others supported annual renewals to keep records current. Staff said initial licenses would include a thorough review and that compliance checks could be established afterward — the council directed staff to add compliance language and to send the draft to the city attorney for review.
The draft does not yet require that each individual license be subject to a public hearing; staff showed one example (Farmington) that does require hearings but said the practice was uncommon. Council members discussed enforcement options such as random spot checks and public notice to existing operators to educate them on new requirements. No ordinance was adopted; staff will return with revised language and attorney review.
