Columbus, Georgia

AN ORDINANCE

NO._______





AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13A OF THE COLUMBUS CODE SO AS TO AMEND SECTION

13A-2 AND SECTION 13A-8 RELATING TO PREREQUISITES REQUIRED FOR MASSAGE THERAPY

PRACTITIONERS.



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THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:



Section 1.



Chapter 13A of the Columbus Code is amended by deleting Sec.13A-2 in

its entirety

and substituting a new Sec. 13A-2 to read as follows:



(a) Any person, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or any other form of

business organization desiring to engage in the business, trade, or profession

of massage therapy shall before engaging in such business, trade, or

profession, file an application for a license addressed to the Finance

Director. Such application shall be on a form approved by the Finance Director

and shall set forth the following:



(1) Name and address of applicant;



(2) Name and address of any person, firm, corporation, or partnership having

previously employed the applicant for the previous two years;



(3) If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, the address or addresses

of such corporation or partnership as well as the names and addresses of the

officers of the corporation and partners of the partnership;



(4) A copy of certification of the applicant?s completion of a course of study

which consisted of a curriculum of physical culture, massage, hydrotherapy,

electrotherapy, or hygiene of not less that 500 hours at a school accredited by

one of the following organizations or its successors:



(i) Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology

(ACCSCT).



(ii) Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training

(ACCET).



(iii) Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).



(iv) Integrative Massage & Somatic Therapies Accreditation (IMSTAC).



Or, alternatively a copy of certification issued by the National Certification

Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. If the applicant is a corporation

or partnership, a copy of either of these certifications awarded to the

employee or agent engaged in the practice of massage therapy must be provided

with the application.



(5) Any other information which is determined to be required in order to

assess the eligibility of the applicant for licensure as a massage therapist

practitioner.



(b) The finance department shall forward the application to the Columbus police

department for a criminal record check to determine if applicant qualifies

pursuant to the provisions of 13A-6(3) and 13A-6(4).



(c) Within five days of receipt the chief of police shall provide the finance

department with pertinent criminal records of the applicant or a statement

certifying that the applicant has no criminal record which would constitute a

reason for denial of the application.

(d) The finance department will inform the applicant of either approval or

denial of application within 15 working days of the original filing date of the

application.



Section 2.



Chapter 13A of the Columbus Code is amended by deleting Sec. 13A-8 in its

entirety and substituting a new Sec. 13A-8 to read as follows:



(a) Any man or woman desiring to engage in the practice of massage therapist,

whether for a business licensed as a massage therapy business as provided

herein or for any other business shall, before engaging in such practice, file

an application for a Massage Therapist Practitioner?s Certificate addressed to

the Director of Finance of the City of Columbus, Georgia. Such application

shall be on a form approved by the Finance Director and shall set forth the

following:



(1) Name and address of practitioner;



(2) Name and address of any person, firm, corporation, or partnership having

previously employed the practitioner for the previous two years;



(3) A copy of certification of the applicant?s (practitioner) completion of a

course of study which consisted of a curriculum of physical culture, massage,

hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, or hygiene of not less that 500 hours at a school

accredited by one of the following organizations or its successors:



(i) Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology

(ACCSCT).



(ii) Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET).



(iii) Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).



(iv) Integrative Massage & Somatic Therapies Accreditation (IMSTAC).





Or, alternatively a copy of certification issued by the National Certification

Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. If the applicant is a corporation

or partnership, a copy of either of these certifications awarded to the

employee or agent engaged in the practice of massage therapy must be provided

with the application.



(4) Any other information which is determined to be required in order to assess

the eligibility of the applicant for certification as a massage therapist

practitioner.



(b) The finance department shall forward the application to the Columbus police

department for a criminal record check to determine if the practitioner

qualifies under the provisions of section 13A-11(3) and section 13A-11(4).



(c) Within five days of receipt the chief of police shall provide the finance

department with pertinent criminal records of the applicant or a statement

certifying that the applicant has no criminal record which would constitute a

reason for denial of the application.



(d) The finance department will inform the applicant of either approval or

denial of application within 15 working days of the original filing date of the

application.



(e) It shall be the duty of each person who receives a massage therapy

practitioner?s certificate to file with the finance department changes of the

practitioner?s home address, home telephone number, and location of practice.



Section 3.



All ordinances or any parts of ordinances in conflict with this

ordinance are hereby repealed.



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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the

______ day of ________, 2003; introduced a second time at a regular meeting of

said Council held on the ______ day of ________, 2003, and adopted at said

meeting by the affirmative vote of ________ members of said Council.









Councilor Allen voting ____________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting ____________.

Councilor Henderson voting ________.

Councilor Hunter voting ___________.

Councilor McDaniel voting _________.

Councilor Pugh voting _____________.

Councilor Rodgers voting __________.

Councilor Suber voting ____________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.









___________________________ __________________________

Tiny B. Washington Robert S. Poydasheff

Clerk Mayor