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January 2005
A bill to license massage therapists in Pennsylvania will be re-introduced in the 2005 legislative session.

House Bill (HB) 2078 died at the end of the 2004 legislative session, but not before gaining some ground, said Nancy Porambo, president of the Pennsylvania Body Therapy Association, a coalition of bodyworkers who helped draft the bill.

An amendment to the bill (A3480) was approved by the Pennsylvania governor’s office that would allow massage therapists to be regulated by a state board of massage therapy, instead of the state board of nursing, as required in previous versions of the bill.

As drafted, HB 2078 would require massage therapists to complete 600 hours of education and pass a written examination. The bill also includes a grandfather clause.

November 2004
A bill to license massage therapists in Pennsylvania will be re-introduced in the 2005 legislative session, with minor changes, and a vote is expected in early 2005.

House Bill (HB) 2078 died at the end of the 2004 legislative session, but not before gaining some ground, said Nancy Porambo, president of the Pennsylvania Body Therapy Association, a coalition of bodyworkers who helped draft the bill.

An amendment to the bill (A3480) was approved by the Pennsylvania governor’s office that would allow massage therapists to be regulated by a state board of massage therapy, instead of the state board of nursing, as required in previous versions of the bill.

A public hearing on HB 2078, held July 28, 2004, brought vocal support for the bill, as well as opposition from groups such as the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association and the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

Porambo said she is sending rebuttal letters and setting up meetings with those groups.

As drafted, HB 2078 would require massage therapists to complete 600 hours of education and pass a written examination. The bill also includes a grandfather clause.

November 2003
The introduction of a bill to license massage therapists in Pennsylvania has been postponed again, as supporters attempt to secure co-sponsors, gather letters of support and clarify minor language errors, according to Nancy Porambo, president of the Pennsylvania Body Therapy Association.

The association, a coalition of bodyworkers that helped draft the bill, has been working toward state licensing for Pennsylvania massage therapists for more than nine years.

"The bill has not been introduced, particularly due to errors that occurred in the reprint of the draft," said Porambo. "Our lobbyist has gone over the bill with a fine-toothed comb to be sure the appropriate language is in the bill.

According to Nancy Porambo, president of the Pennsylvania Body Therapy Associatin, a coalition of bodyworkers who helped graft the bill, the changes are minor language changes that take place with most legislative pieces.

"There are no major changes in the bill to my knowledge at this point," said Porambe.

No date has been set for the introduction of the bill, but Porambo said she is hoping for May 2003 (past this publication's deadline). No bill number has been assigned to is yet.

Formerly KNown as House Bill 3001, the legislation would require Pennsylvania massage therapists to complete 500 hours of education and pass an approved examination administered by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupaional Affairs.

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