;Beginning Wednesday, Colorado will be the 39th state to require massage workers to be registered.
Before the Legislature passed new legislation for massage therapists, authorities including El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said existing law limited their ability to shut down purported massage parlors where employees offered sex for cash.
Under the new law, a person must register to legally use the title of “masseuse” or “massage therapist” or face fines and jail time.
Therapists must be licensed, undergo a background check and fingerprinting, complete 500 hours of course work, and must have committed no serious crimes in their work. Engaging in a sexual act with a client is barred.
Massage therapists say the law will protect consumers and bring more credibility to the field.
The state law trumps city ordinances that have varied widely around the state.
For instance, Colorado Springs required therapists to receive 1,000 hours of training while El Paso County had no standards.
Kathryn Stewart, government relations chairwoman for the Colorado chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, said at least 4,319 therapists now are registered in Colorado, and about 1,700 have applications pending. The state is allowing people who apply by Wednesday to keep practicing until June 30.
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Information from: The Gazette,
