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Colorado Coalition of Massage Therapists

Legislative Work Group

 

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Legislative Alerts

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• On behalf of the massage therapy profession, AMTA has taken action and filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Department of Education (DoEd) rule eliminating the longstanding “150% rule” for federal financial aid for massage therapy students and schools.
• On June 7, the complaint, motion for preliminary injunction, and brief were filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C. AMTA’s challenge to the new rule, scheduled to go into effect on July 1, seeks to delay its implementation in an effort to overturn the new rule completely and reinstate the 150% rule.
• Calling All School Owners and Administrators
  If your school will be affected by the new rule, we encourage you, as a school owner or administrator, to reach out and share with us how your school and students would be negatively impacted. 
  

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SB24-201 – Increase Massage Therapy Education Program Hours
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!
March 22, 2024 – 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.