Urgent request from CAMTC for letters to CA State Senators

Late last night I received word that the California Police Chiefs Association of Police Chiefs (CPCA) is still working to damage and impede the success of CAMTC in moving toward state-level regulation of massage therapy in California. CAMTC is urging all supportive parties to write a letter to be sent to state senators as soon as possible urging them to kill AB-1822

Senator Rod Wright has agreed to be the Senate Floor Jockey for AB 1822 for the CPCA. The amendments are at the Senate Desk. If things go as expected, the bill will go out for amending today. It would be back on the 2^nd reading file on Friday or Monday. The following day it would be placed on the 3^rd reading file and would be eligible for Senator Wright to take it up for a vote. Senator Oropeza, the author of SB-731 which authorized creation of CAMTC, will send out a letter opposing AB 1822, which carries weight with the other Senators. CAMTC is also working with the leaders of other interested groups to build opposition to the bill and share the opposition with members of the Senate.

Massage Today has created a web form to send your letter to the CA state senators. They also have a background story about the "Kill AB1822" effort.

Floor alert letters to the senate have been sent by both CAMTC and ABMP.

This is and always has been a turf battle between a small fraction of police chiefs and the move toward uniform and equitable regulation of massage therapy at the state level. AB-1822 would place on the CAMTC Board of Directors representatives from the same organizations that have spread misinformation in their attempt to undermine CAMTC. As noted in the floor alerts, CAMTC already is doing thorough background checks on applicants. Review of flagged applications already involves CAMTC staff that have law enforcement backgrounds. And, law enforcement already has an opportunity for participation on the board via positions reserved for the California League of Cities and California Association of Counties (both positions currently unfilled). AB-1822 not only continues an attempt to undermine CAMTC, but also, as noted by State Senator Sam Aanestad during the Senate Business & Professions Committee hearing (37:40 min into the video stream) sets an undesirable precedent of having law enforcement intrude directly into regulation of health care professions.

Please lend your voice and support to preserving the purpose and integrity of CAMTC.