Illinois Activity

AOBTA^® has been working in coalition with the National Qigong Association to protect our professions in Illinois and Massachusetts. Together with Thai Bodywork representatives, we drafted an Illinois bill to license Traditional Asian Healing Therapy (TAHT), which encompasses Asian Bodywork Therapy, Clinical Qigong Therapy and Thai Bodywork Therapy. Once passed, this will allow our members in Illinois to retain their right to work, and not be forced to study massage in order to continue to practice ABT. We have secured sponsors and bipartisan support in the Senate and House, and our TAHT licensing bill has been filed in the Senate.

We are now waiting for our draft to be assigned a Senate bill number. Soon we will be asking all our members in Illinois to call their respective Senators to support a bill that appropriately regulates our profession. This will both protect our profession and our right to work in Illinois.

Massachusetts Activity

In Massachusetts, we created a redraft of S.168 so that it would only license Traditional Asian Healing Therapy – specifically for Asian Bodywork Therapy and Clinical Qigong Therapy – and would remove the generic “bodyworks” licensing that would inappropriately regulate all currently non-regulated touch therapies. Our redraft was well-received by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, who sent it to study. They were impressed with our work and encouraged us to resubmit it in the next legislative session, in collaboration with the original bill sponsor. 

By Yolanda Asher, Legislative Consultant and Lauren Paap, AOBTA^® Treasurer/Secretary

Legislative Activity: Illinois

We have been working with AOBTA^® State Representatives Ashley Flores, Steve Rogne and Catherine White as well as AOBTA^® members in Illinois to retain their right to practice ABT in Illinois. As you may know, SB.1841 was introduced earlier this year that removed the ABT exemption from Massage licensure requirements. The goal was to address issues of Human Trafficking. It was not meant to harm legitimate Asian Bodywork Therapists; however, the consequence is a law that forces ABT professionals under a Massage Therapy license. We are working diligently to preserve our educational standards and protect the ABT profession in Illinois and are in the process of drafting a proper Asian Bodywork Therapy licensing bill.

Many thanks to AOBTA^® members Ashley Flores, Catherine White, Steve Rogne, Charles Segard and Elliott Challandes who took time off from work to support their colleagues, defend our profession and trekked to the state Capitol to meet with legislators. Elliot Challandes graciously welcomed everyone by hosting a dinner at his office in Springfield.

We are grateful to Kerry Heitkotter, Elliott Challandes, and Donna Harrar, who made donations to the IL member fund in support of legislative activity. Care to contribute to these efforts? You can make a donation here: DONATE NOW (indicate that your donation is for the IL Fund).

Legislative Activity: Massachusetts

We have been working with AOBTA^® State Representatives Lauren Paap and Mary McAlister in Massachusetts to improve the language of S.168 “An Act Regulating Bodyworks.” The bill in its current form is too broad and vague, again in an attempt to address issues of Human Trafficking. Many thanks to Lauren Paap, Mary McAlister, Laura Indigo, Kim Purdy and Lori Maher who all testified at the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure hearing on Monday, October 28, 2019.

National Database and Guide for Law Enforcement Agencies

Regulating touch professions in an effort to combat criminal activity is a common theme around the country. In 2018 AOBTA^® created an online directory for law enforcement to verify the legitimacy of our practitioners.

To help investigators distinguish between legitimate and suspicious ABT businesses we also updated our Guide to the Asian Bodywork Therapy Profession for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Asian Bodywork Therapists Are Stronger Together

As a volunteer-governed professional association we depend upon the participation of the members to support the health and vitality of our profession. Please reach out to inform us about local legislative activities or if you want to learn more and discuss ways to get involved.

We are here to support you in your efforts.  EMAIL AOBTA^® ADVOCACY