Due to some delays in the process, HB662, a bill to massage therapy, was not signed until Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
We thought it would be signed on April 27, but the news that it wouldn't be signed on that day didn't surface until the last minute. However, Rep. Arntzen coordinated a meeting for that same day with Patti Keebler, appointments coordinator for the Governor's Office and Marilyn Kelly-Clark, the unit supervisor for the Health Care Licensing Bureau.
This meeting was held to answer questions and provide information concerning the next steps.
This photo-op signing was on Tuesday May 12. Front: Celeste Rivers (MTGRC), Gov. Schwietzer, Rachel Romanelli (AMTA). Rear: Deborah Kimmet (BLMTB), Claudia Fife (AMTA), Julie Solberg (AMTA)
The two most important things to come out of that meeting were: 1. Appointments to the Board of Massage Therapy will be made within a few weeks. If you are interested in applying (or would like to make a recommendation for a board member) do so NOW. They hope to have the board appointed by late May. 2. To ensure that you get all important information concerning Licensing, the Board, and Board meetings, sign up for the "Interested Parties List" NOW. More Information on these two items is below!!
We know that some of you are concerned about what happens next, and are concerned about the Board abusing its power. The best way to ensure that doesn't happen is to apply yourself or recommend someone to the board (info how to do that is below)! We always encourage public participation in the process, rather than leaving it to others to do it for you. So, get involved!!
Future newsletters will be used to explain the bill and pass along information about the process, so stay tuned.
In other news, the AMTA-MT chapter held a celebratory dinner on May 2nd. Awards of recognition were given out to those who helped with the effort. Deborah Kimmet, representing the BLMTB, attended on our behalf. We all hope that now that the effort toward licensing has ended, that this will usher in a new era of cooperation and unity in the profession as we move forward!
Happy Reading! The BLMTB Board of Directors
If you like the info that you get from the BLMTB consider becoming a member or making a donation. While we provide all of our info for free, it does cost us something to keep the website going and to provide information to the general public. For example, we'll be doing a postcard mailing that will cost several hundred dollars to ensure that everyone on our list is notified about licensing. So anything you can do to help offset our expenses is greatly appreciated. To join or donate, click here.
Appointments/Recommendations for the Board of Massage Therapy:
How to Apply for the Board of Massage Therapy or give a recommendation: Contact Patti Keebler if you do not have internet access: 406-444-3862 Info on-line: www.governor.mt.gov/boards_councils/default.asp Questions: Contact Patti Keebler 406-444-3862 or pkeebler@mt.gov
Here are some things to keep in mind when applying for the board or making a recommendation:
The Governor's office prefers web-based applications, but you can apply in a variety of ways: fax, email, on-line or US Mail
You can also nominate people who you think would be good for the board. If you know a person who holds a license in another health care profession or a person who would make a good "public" member, recruit them. We want to be sure to get people on the board who would make good members.
Everything and anything concerning an application for the board or a recommendation for a board member is public record. This means that anything submitted is available for the general public to review.
By statute, boards are required to maintain gender and racial balance on the board. Also, while not required to do so, the Governor's office tries to balance the board to represent a broad spectrum of Montana - geographically (members from across the state, rather than one area) and generationally (even though they can't ask you your age).
Board members receive $50 per day for board meeting days and other board activity days, plus per diem (meals/lodging if required) and travel (mileage).
Be sure to make your application as complete as possible. Since there are certain requirements for board members, be specific concerning: any national organizations you belong to, years of experience in the profession, and whether or not you own a school.
Concerning the Massage Therapy Board, Board Meetings and Licensure:
Don't miss out! Sign up for more information.
Sign up for the "Interested Parties List" To ensure that you get information regarding licensure and board meetings, be sure to sign up with the state.
You are contacting the state of Montana to sign up (not the BLMTB or the AMTA) Contact: Marilyn Kelly-Clark 406-841-2380 or mkelly-clark@mt.gov Tell her you want to be added to the "Interested Parties List" for the Massage Therapy Board. Leave your contact info: name, phone number, email address and street address.
We highly encourage you to sign up if you plan to be licensed. There is a firm date for applying for a grandfather license and we don't want anyone to miss out.
Board Meetings / Board Process:
Board meetings are public and anyone may attend.
If you cannot attend in person, you may listen in via phone. However, you must arrange this in advance, as there are limited phone lines on which to listen in.
Meeting Minutes are posted on-line, but because the minutes have to be approved first, there may be a long lag time before the minutes are approved (at the next or a future board meeting) and posted. However, meetings are audiotaped. These tapes are only available from the time of the meeting until the minutes are approved and posted.
There is time for public comment. However, if a topic is brought up and it is not already on the official agenda, the Board cannot legally discuss the topic at that time. If someone wants the board to discuss a topic, the item must be placed on the agenda ahead of time.
Board members cannot discuss board business outside of meetings. Board members can decide at meetings what can and can't be talked about outside of board meetings with regard to information sharing. Since meetings are public record, this item is about board member behavior and is not about restricting information.
The first meetings will include such topics as board member training, setting fees, developing applications, reviewing and approving the rules common to all boards and development of the unprofessional conduct rules applicable to the profession.
Two attorneys are assigned to each board: one to advise and counsel the board and the other to prosecute complaints.
That's it for now. As we learn more, we will post that information!
The bill passed the House today 70 "yes" to 30 "no". This was the last vote necessary for passage.
Now it is off the Governor's office for signing. We still need to continue with positive support e-mails to the Governor's office.
The message to the Governor and the office staff:
Support HB 662 Massage Therapy Licensing Act, Please sign the bill!!
The governor's website is http://www.governor.mt.gov/. In the left hand column, there is a small box about half way down that has a link called "send comments". Click on this and a message form will pop up that you can fill out to send to the governor.
You may also call the governor's office at #406-444-3111 and leave messages.
Key Staff to call and leave a message for are:
1. Governor Brian Schweitzer 2. Lt. Governor John Bohlinger 3. Chief Policy Advisor Hal Harper 4. Chief of Staff Brian Nelson.
Thank you for all of your support!
The BLMTB Board of Directors
Sunday Update - April 5
After careful negotiation and with respect to our massage therapy public, our organizations and committees have come to an agreement regarding amendments to HB662.
We stand firm that these amendments strengthen our scope of practice to reflect what it is that we do.
We are encouraged and proud that we have come together as a unified front in our own profession. We're confident - with your help - this will be demonstrated at the hearing on Monday.
First it was Monday, then Wednesday -- and now it's MONDAY again!!!!
THE HEARING IS ON MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009 3pm - Room 317
We would like to have a good showing there: a. to stand up in support if the amendments we want get put in b. to oppose the bill if they don't c. to stand up to oppose the PTs who will try to restrict our practice.
Please call or email the Senate Public Health, Safety and Welfare Committee with the message below. It has been crafted to ensure that there is no confusion on the part of the legislators and that it is made very clear which amendments we support, and that our support is conditioned upon those amendments getting onto the bill.
The Message:
"Conditional Support for HB662 - Massage Therapy licensing -
"Support ONLY on the condition the Package of Compromise Amendments developed by Massage therapistsare added to the bill.
The opponents let the bill go forward in the House because of an agreement to include them and grandfathering.
That is the ONLY reason the bill passed the House.
We have unity in our profession as long as those amendments and no others go in.
They are reasonable and accurately reflect our scope of practice."
The profession has unified behind this effort - a first in 12 years - and the first time in 25 years that we've gotten a bill this far in the process. Let's stick together and do the right thing for our profession.
Hope to see you on Monday! Thanks!
Newsletter / Legislative Update March 29, 2009 #0032
Support HB662
After the bill hearing Friday March 27, a group of opponents and proponents met with Rep. Elsie Arntzen to see if we could iron out our differences. The main component of the bill that needed to be changed was “Transitional Licensing” and turn it back into a “Grandfathering” section. After a few hours of discussion an agreement was made that created a generous “Grandfathering” section to include all existing massage therapists to license without the need for more education or testing.
Other amendments were agreed to that concerned scope of practice and other issues.
Later that same afternoon, the House Business and Labor committee voted to pass the bill out of committee with the “Grandfather” amendments included. Both Rachel Romanelli and Deborah Kimmet spoke to the committee about the negotiations between all the parties that occurred all that day. The committee was informed that a package of amendments concerning scope of practice and other issues would be brought to the senate side, but for now, the important thing was to ensure that “Grandfathering” was implemented into the bill draft.
Amendments that were discussed by the persons that met on March 27 were agreed upon in principle, with the understanding that further discussions with others outside this group would need to occur, as we move forward with the bill. The group is clear that the intention is to keep our scope of practice intact and descriptive of what we practice as massage therapists and somatic practitioners currently.
HB662 will be coming to a vote of the whole House on Monday. At this point in time, we request that you SUPPORT HB662 with the current amendments, AND CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THE BILL. Call 406-444-4800 to leave a message.
This is the first time in 25 years that our massage therapy and bodywork community has united to move forward together as a profession to pass legislation and to come this far in the process. This is a ground-breaking moment for us all.
Our groups and others are working in good faith with the intention of passing a piece of legislation that we can all agree to. We’re working hard to ensure that all of us are represented.
Rachel Romanelli, AMTA-MT Government Relations Chair Deborah Kimmet, BLMTB Board of Directors Susan Carlson, Massage Therapist
The Health Freedom Update of May 30 contains really good information about Health Freedom and why the BLMTB supports Health Freedom Legislation. Click here to go get that update.
One of the Free Services that we provide is the ability to receive Legislative and other Action alerts. Notification is done via email. This allows you to keep on top of everything, and notifies you if something critical to our profession is happening.
