New bill seeks to license massage and Asian bodywork therapists

On February 18, a bill was introduced in the Minnesota Legislature to license massage therapy and Asian bodywork therapy. If enacted, the new bill would require the establishment of a licensing board to oversee the industry. The duties of the board will include the following:

(1)Issuing licenses to qualified applicants

(2)Establishing educational requirements as well as approving “massage therapy and Asian Bodywork therapy school programs, and conduct or provide for surveys of schools, programs, and courses”.

(3) Maintaining a list of licensed therapists

(4)Adopting rules of standard as well as practice.

(5)Approving an examination used for credentialing

(6)Enforcing rules related to do with licensing as well as investigating violations.

No single person will be allowed to practice unless licensed. A person found doing so would be guilty of a “gross misdemeanor”.

Why this is a bad idea

Research is clear on the negative effects of occupational licensing.

For instance, licensing tends to increase prices. Research has also found that occupational licensing deters economic mobility and increases inequality. Additionally, licensing is a barrier to physical migration.

In December, Minnesota had the third-highest level of job losses in the nation. Most of these losses were concentrated in the low-wage industries, mostly made up of low-income workers. Introducing new laws that keep low-income workers from accessing job opportunities would worsen the employment situation.

Legislators should instead focus on cutting red tape to allow laid-off workers into new job opportunities, as well as attract workers outside of Minnesota. Bills increasing regulatory hoops for individuals to pass through only make it that much harder.

Workers need a few barriers to jobs, not more. The Minnesota legislature will be doing Minnesotans a disservice by passing this bill.