South Dakota MTs Protest Law

A group of South Dakota massage practitioners is protesting what it deems an unfair licensing law passed in 2005.

United Massage Professionals Association of South Dakota’s purpose is to “inform therapists, bodyworkers and the general public why this law is unnecessary in the state of South Dakota, and how it affects our businesses, services and our profession,” according Victoria Pennock, spokesperson for the group.

Central to the group’s complaint are fees, which went into effect on Nov.1, including a $100 application fee and a $200 licensing fee every two years, says Pennock. Plus, massage therapists in Sioux Falls must still pay city licensing and massage-establishment fees.

The group also objects to how the law was pushed through, without broad-based input or support.

According to Pennock, of the 450 known massage therapists in the state, only “a select few” from the state chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association were involved in the legislative effort, while most therapists were unaware that an effort was underway.

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals has offered assistance to the group if it wants to draft new legislation to amend the current law.