HB1458

To our Honorable Legislator; As a New Hampshire Resident, and Registered Nurse with almost 20 years of experience working with Licensed Practical Nurse, I am indeed IN Support for HB 1458.. For following reasons: As licensing massage, reflexology, structural integration, and Asian bodywork facilities indeed crucial for public safety, ensuring therapists have proper training for safe, effective care, and preventing human trafficking by making illicit operations easier to identify and shut down, while also establishing professional standards, improving industry reputation, and creating accountability through oversight and disciplinary actions. This is also important for Client Safety & Quality of Care as verification of Competency: Licenses confirm therapists meet minimum education, training, and examination standards, assuring clients they're receiving safe, competent care, not just untrained individuals. Improves Health & Sanitation Standards: Licensed businesses must adhere to hygiene and sanitation rules, reducing risks of infection or unsafe practices. Helps Clear Scope of Practice: Licensing defines what a massage therapist can legally do, protecting clients from inappropriate services and guiding referrals from other healthcare providers. Combat Illicit Activities & Human Trafficking Deters Illegal Operations: Licensing makes it harder for illegal businesses, often linked to human trafficking, to operate unnoticed. Enforcement Power: It allows authorities to inspect establishments, enforce operating hours (like preventing late-night operations common in illicit places), and shut down non-compliant businesses. Protects Therapists: It helps protect legitimate therapists who might otherwise be forced to work in exploitative, unlicensed environments. For Professional Integrity & Industry Growth ,Reputation & Trust: A licensed business signals legitimacy, building public trust and enhancing the overall reputation of the massage therapy profession. Everyone should have accountability: It provides a formal way to discipline unethical or non-compliant practitioners, maintaining professional standards. and lastly Career Advancement: Licensing offers therapists professional recognition, increased mobility, and better opportunities, as more states mandate it. Hoping New Hampshire will be part of safe community! Sincerely, Theresa Calope, RN