CCP 04212025 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

38 2. Licensing Gaps and Oversight Issues: 39 Roseville's current ordinance outlines general requirements for massage therapist licensing but does not 40 adequately account for the quality or status of the educational institutions issuing credentials. This 41 creates several challenges. 42 Accreditation Gaps: 43 Some massage therapy schools that were once accredited have since closed or are no longer 44 accredited institutions. Oftentimes therapists have a diploma from schools that were once accredited 45 but are no longer accredited. The City's ordinance does not currently address how to handle 46 applications from individuals who have previously attended such institutions. There is no one method 47 or simple way to determine why the school is no longer accredited and, therefore, it is unclear if a 48 diploma meets current accreditation standards for massage therapy. 49 Other Issues: 50 The State of Minnesota has multiple oversight methods for schools. Some schools are accredited 51 and some schools (typically those that offer certificates rather than diplomas) are licensed and 52 registered with the state. The City's ordinance does not currently address these differences. 53 54 Attached is a table summarizing licensing caps and inspection requirements from a sample of peer 55 cities. Some cities continue to limit the number of establishments to better manage compliance and 56 reduce potential public safety risks. 57 58 Policy Objectives 59 Among the City’s Community Aspirations are to ensure that the community is safe and law-abiding. As 60 mentioned above, criminal activity can occur at massage therapy establishments if proper regulations 61 are not in place. The proposed changes to Chapter 309 will provide for stricter requirements for both 62 massage therapy establishments and massage therapists that will limit the opportunity for criminal 63 activities to occur. In the addition, the changes to Chapter 309 will limit the proliferation of massage 64 therapy establishment and allow for better oversight of the establishments by licensing staff and the 65 Police Department that will ensure that massage therapy establishments are law-abiding and safe. 66 67 Equity Impact Summary \[1\] 68 According to the findings in ‘Human Trafficking Task Force Report’ Human trafficking is prevalent 69 within the massage profession. Research shows that as many as 6,500 illicit (massage) businesses are 70 active in the United States.” The report further states that human trafficking is linked with fraud in 71 massage therapist education and in the licensing pathways. Human trafficking in the massage 72 profession is part of a much larger international problem that creates slavery, bondage, intimidation, 73 violence and trauma. The Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2004 found that traffickers primarily target 74 women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by poverty, have limited access to education, 75 suffer chronic unemployment, discrimination, and lack economic opportunities in their countries of origin. 76 Traffickers lure women and girls into their networks through false promises of decent working 77 conditions. 78 79 80 Budget Implications 81 None at this time. 82 83 Staff Recommendations 84 Staff is seeking Council's input on the following policy questions. If Council is interested in pursuing any 85 of these changes, staff will bring back potential ordinance amendments for council consideration at a 86 future meeting. 87 1. Is Council interested in considering a cap on the number of massage therapy establishment 88 licenses? Page 2 of 3 Qbhf!75!pg!216