The Board proposed the rule amendment to update and clarify the definitions and required hours for approved massage schools.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Massage Therapy

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

64B7-32.001Definitions

64B7-32.003Minimum Requirements for Board Approved Massage Schools

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposed the rule amendment to update and clarify the definitions and required hours for approved massage schools.

SUMMARY: To clarify rule text and update the required hours.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 480.033(9), 480.035(7), FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 480.033(9), 480.04(1)(b), FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kama Monroe, Executive Director, Board of Massage Therapy/MQA, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B7-32.001 Definitions.

(1) “Course of Study” means all classes required to complete a massage therapy program, which meets or exceeds the subject area requirements found in Rule 64B7-32.003, F.A.C.

(2)  “Subject Area” means a specific area of focus that is a portion of the minimum course of study.  A subject area may span multiple classes offered in the course of study.

(3) “Class” means a series of lectures or lessons in a required subject area, or areas that are offered as part of a course study.

(4)(1) “Classroom hour” means no less than 50 minutes of any one clock hour during which a the student participates in a class, or portion of a class offered as part of an approved course of study learning activity of the school while in the physical presence of a faculty member.

(5)  “Instruction hour” means no less than 50 minutes of any one clock hour during which a student participates in a class, or portion of a class offered as part of an approved course study.  Instruction hours may include classes or portions or classes where the delivery method is correspondence, home study, video or digital media, or instructor-led virtual or distanced learning.

(2) through (4) renumbered (6) through (8)  No change.

Rulemaking Authority 480.035(7) FS. Law Implemented 480.033(9), 480.041(1)(b) FS. History–New 3-25-86, Formerly 21L-32.001, 61G11-32.001, Amended 9-3-12, 12-31-17,                  .

 

64B7-32.003 Minimum Requirements for Board Approved Massage Schools.

(1) In order to receive and maintain Board approval, an in-state school, and any satellite location of a previously approved in-state school, must:

(a) through (b)  No change

(c) Offer a course of study that includes, all required at a minimum, the 500 classroom hours in each subject area listed below in chart A, except that from March 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022 some hours may be delivered as instruction hours as detailed in chart B.  All hours must be completed at a rate of no more than 6 classroom hours per day and no more than 30 classroom hours per calendar week:

Chart A

Subject Area of Study	Required Classroom Hours
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.
No change.

 

Chart B

Subject Area	Required Classroom Hours	Total Required Hours (classroom and instruction)
Anatomy and Physiology	0	150 hours
Basic Massage Theory  and History	75	100 hours
Clinical Practicum	125	125 hours
Allied Modalities	76	76 hours
Business	0	15 hours
Theory and Practice of Hydrotherapy	12	15 hours
Florida  Laws and Rules (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S., Chapter 64B7, F.A.C.)	0	10 hours
Professional Ethics	0	4 hours
HIV/AIDS Education	0	3 hours
Medical Errors	0	2 hours

 

(d) No change. 

(2) through (5)  No change. 

Rulemaking Authority 480.033(9), 480.035(7) FS. Law Implemented 480.033(9), 480.041(1)(b) FS. History–New 3-25-86, Amended 8-15-89, 12-22-92, Formerly 21L-32.003, Amended 10-20-96, Formerly 61G11-32.003, Amended 8-16-98, 10-30-07, 4-25-10, 5-8-12, 3-21-18,                      .

003

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Massage Therapy

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Massage Therapy

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 20, 2020

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 3, 2020