Florida HB197 Rules & Laws for Massage Therapists Identification Requirements

by: Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC

To provide the department and law enforcement agencies the means to more effectively identify, investigate, and arrest persons engaging in human trafficking, an employee or any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment therein must immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer, valid government identification while in the establishment. An investigator of the department must request valid government identification from all employees while in the establishment. A valid government identification includes:

• A valid, unexpired driver’s license issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States;
• A valid, unexpired identification card issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States;
• A valid, unexpired United States passport;
• A naturalization certificate issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;
• A valid, unexpired alien registration receipt card (green card); or
• A valid, unexpired employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security. 

A massage establishment operator must immediately present a valid government identification while in the establishment when requested by the investigator. A documented copy of each employee and any person performing massage therapy in the establishment must be maintained by the establishment. 

The department shall notify a federal immigration office if a person operating a massage establishment, an employee, or any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment fails to provide valid government identification as required under this section. 

Violations of these requirements could result in criminal misdemeanor or felony charges, punishable by law. If you would like legal details for any of these newly installed and/or revised rules, it is recommended to consult a licensed attorney for their legal opinion.

The State Surgeon General is the government office, or board, which can make a legal determination when safety to the public is jeopardized. A massage establishment that operates in violation of certain laws and rules is declared a nuisance and may be abated or enjoined, in addition to possible criminal charges.

These are just some of the highlights of Florida's House Bill 197 to require better identification practices amongst massage therapy establishments to help prevent human trafficking within the massage industry.  To learn more rules, laws, human trafficking prevention and more, please visit: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/mandatory