Alabama: massage regulation moves under Department of Public Health
A bill passed by the Alabama Senate would transfer responsibility for licensing and regulating massage therapists and massage establishments from a standalone board to the Alabama Department of Public Health after several years of controversy and management problems with the previous Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board. Under Senate Bill 136, the current board would become an advisory council to the Department of Public Health, centralizing oversight of the profession’s rules and fees. The change follows earlier actions that disbanded the massage therapy board and temporarily placed oversight with the Alabama Board of Nursing amid concerns over mismanagement and fee issues. In addition, a related bill was filed to create a new Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Department of Workforce to handle administrative duties for several occupational boards.