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Colorado Coalition of Massage Therapists

Legislative Work Group

 

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Legislative Alerts

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SB24-201 – Increase Massage Therapy Education Program Hours

Introduced 04-10-2024
More Information – Follow the Process

• Concerning an increase in the hours of work in a massage therapy program required for licensure as a massage therapist.
• The bill increases the coursework and clinical work minimum requirement from 500 to 650 total hours starting July 1, 2024.

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Colorado Coalition of Massage Therapists (CCMT) is a collaboration of representatives of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and Colorado massage schools.

CCMT is accessible to consider a collective response to legislative and regulatory activity impacting Colorado Licensed Massage Therapists (LMT).

CCMT maintains CCMTonline.com to serve as a clearinghouse for general public information; communication efforts are further supported by the Legislative Alert Network (LAN) and the CCMT Facebook page.

 

• CCMT initiated a presence in the Colorado State Legislature in 2002
• CCMT was a driving force of change to the auto insurance law in 2003 allowing massage therapy rehab coverage
• CCMT originated and supported the passage of the Massage Therapy Practice Act in 2008, and continues to monitor bills that concern our profession
  
• Since 2008, CCMT has worked with DORA as they regulate the Massage Therapy Practice Act
• CCMT is available to work cooperatively with municipalities considering ordinances that may impact  LMTs or business establishments that employ LMTs
• Link to Massage Therapy Practice Act
• Link to MTPA Rules and Regulations

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Massage Therapy
Legislative Awareness Day

Participate!
April 14, 2023 – Details

• CCMT has sponsored Massage Therapy Legislative Awareness Day at the Capitol since 2003.
• This event brings licensed massage therapists to the State Capitol to provide chair massage to legislators and their staff.
• The MTLAD serves a dual purpose:  creating a positive image of our profession with law makers, and to make influential contacts in the legislature.
• The AMTA Colorado Chapter and ABMP have used lobbyists for many years to advocate and work on behalf of our profession with the state legislature.

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How to Stay Informed and Involved

• CCMT Legislative Alert Network – Subscribe to email notices monitoring active legislative issues.
• DORA Office of Massage Therapy Licensure –  Provides general information and links to current statutes and rules.
• DORA Alerts – Subscribe to email notices of alerts issued by the Office of Massage Therapy Licensure.
• DORA Regulatory Notices – Subscribe to email notices whenever a draft proposed rule or amendment to an existing rule is submitted for review.

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Colorado – Legislative and Rule Processes

• The Legislative Process – How a bill becomes law
• The Legislative Process – Flow chart

• Colorado’s Rulemaking and Cost-Benefit Analysis Processes – Full text and flow chart

• CO HB16-1320 – Anatomy of a Bill from Introduction to Final Rules

Legislative Glossary
Act	• Legislation enacted into law. • A bill which has been approved by both houses of the General Assembly and has become a law either with or without the Governor's signature.
Amendment	• Any alteration made to a bill, resolution, or memorial offered by an individual member either in committee or on the floor of the legislative house.
Bill	• Draft of a proposed law presented to the legislature for consideration.
C.R.S.	• Abbreviation for Colorado Revised Statutes, which is the compilation of Colorado laws.
Rules	• Administrative rules • An administrative rule is a general statement adopted by an agency to make the law it enforces or administers more specific or to govern the agency's organization or procedure. • Administrative rules have the force and effect of law.
Statute	• A particular law enacted by the legislature.
Sunset	• The periodic review of statutes controlling advisory committees and agencies exercising the state's power for regulation. • Committees and agencies under sunset are terminated automatically by specific dates unless their life has been extended by legislative action.
Statute vs Rule
	Statute		Rule
Statute	• Enacted by legislation. • Requires new legislation to be introduced to amend.		• Statute provides authority to an agency to promulgate rules.
Creation	• Introduction of a bill.		• DORA Rulemaking Process
Force Status	• Law.		• An agency rule that is adopted under rulemaking provisions of has the force and effect of law.