2016 -- H 7164

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LC003656

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BODY WORKS SERVICES

ESTABLISHMENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tobon, Barros, Coughlin, Melo, and Abney

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2016

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 89

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BODY WORKS SERVICES ESTABLISHMENTS

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     5-89-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Body Works

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Services Establishments Act."

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     5-89-2. Definitions. -- When used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Applicant" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation or any other entity that

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applies for a license to the department of health as required by this chapter.

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     (2) "Approved" means approved by the department of health in accordance with accepted

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standards.

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     (3) "Body rubs and body stimulations" means the manipulation or conditioning of part or

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parts of the body by any means not regulated by chapter 20.8 of title 23.

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     (4) "Body works and body works services" means body rubs, body stimulations, spa

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services, and spa treatments.

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     (5) "Body works establishment license" and "establishment license" means the license

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required by §5-89-3.

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     (6) "Body works personnel license" and "personnel license" means the license required

 

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by §5-89-4.

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     (7) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health and any agent authorized

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to act on its behalf.

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     (8) "Establishment" means the office, place of business, premise, or location wherein

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body works are offered or provided for hire, reward, or compensation.

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     (9) "Personnel" means any person who performs body works services for hire,

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compensation, or reward or any person who is employed by or otherwise compensated by any

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establishment as defined herein, or any person who is permitted by an establishment to conduct

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any type of business for reward, hire, or compensation within said establishment.

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     (10) "Spa services and spa treatments" means any service or treatment not regulated by

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chapter 20.8 of title 23, to treat the skin or body for remedial, hygienic, relaxation, or other

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purposes, including, but not limited to, vapor, pool, baths, saunas, dry saunas, towel treatments,

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showers, body scrubs, and body showers.

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     (11) "Specified anatomical areas" means human genitals, pubic regions, buttocks, or

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female breasts below a point immediately above the top of the areola.

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     (12) "State" means the state of Rhode Island, and any agency thereof including, but not

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limited to, the department of health.

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     (13) "Supervisor" means the person or persons designated by an establishment to ensure

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compliance with this chapter.

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     5-89-3. Body works establishment license required. -- (a) No person, firm, corporation,

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partnership or other entity shall open a body works establishment for the purpose of providing

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body works services for hire, compensation or reward without first obtaining a license from the

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department of health.

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     (b) The department shall provide an application requiring the following information:

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     (1) The full legal name and any other names used by the applicant if the applicant is an

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individual; otherwise, if the applicant is a:

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     (i) A partnership, the legal name of the partnership and the names and addresses of all

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general partners;

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     (ii) A corporation, the legal name of the corporation and the names and addresses of each

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officer or director of said corporation;

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     (iii) No establishment shall operate under any other name unless such name is registered

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with the department as provided herein;

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     (2) The current residential address and telephone number of the applicant, partner or

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officer or director, and any other residential or business address used by the applicant, partner,

 

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officer or director within five (5) years of the application date;

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     (3) A copy of the applicant's, partner's, officer's or director's driver's license or other state

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or government issued identification. In no event shall any person under the age of eighteen (18)

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years of age be issued a license;

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     (4) The applicant's business, occupation, or employment history for the five (5) years

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immediately preceding the date of the application;

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     (5) Whether the applicant, or any partner, officer or director has previously possessed a

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license, or an interest in an establishment as defined herein, within five (5) years of the

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application date, and whether any prior body works establishment license has previously been

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suspended, or revoked and the reasons therefor;

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     (6) Whether the applicant, or any partner, officer or director has been convicted or pled

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nolo contendere to any felony or misdemeanor in this state or any other jurisdiction;

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     (7) The approximate number of employees that the establishment intends to employ. Any

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establishment granted a license shall be required to provide a list of all employees, their addresses

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and license numbers to the department within seventy-two (72) hours of their hiring. This

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provision shall apply to any general manager, manager, or any other individual in a supervisory

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role, whether they are performing body works services or not;

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     (8) The address at which the establishment intends to offer body works services, and

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whether the applicant intends to provide body works services off-site or at private residences or

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other locations in addition to its primary place of business. If the establishment intends to operate

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at more than one location, it shall designate a primary address for receiving all correspondence

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related to its license renewal;

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     (9) Any other information that the department shall request as part of the application

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process;

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     (10) All applicants, partners, officers or directors shall execute a waiver or authorization

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permitting the department conduct a criminal background check as part of the application process.

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No application shall be processed until all information is provided, all background checks are

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complete, and all fees are paid;

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     (11)(i) The department, consistent with its obligations contained herein, shall promulgate

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standards and guidelines establishing whether any prior criminal history of an applicant, partner,

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officer or director should be grounds for denial of a license. The department shall consider

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whether any criminal conviction of an applicant poses a threat to the customers of the personnel

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or establishment and/or whether any offense is a crime of violence which would pose a threat to

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the customers of the personnel or establishment. The existence of a criminal conviction or plea of

 

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nolo contendere of any applicant shall not automatically be a bar to the applicant's license;

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     (ii) In the event that the department determines that a license shall not be granted based

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on the criminal history of an applicant, it shall provide the applicant, partner, officer or director

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an opportunity to request a hearing to contest such a denial. Appeals of any denial after such a

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hearing shall be governed by the provisions contained in chapter 35 of title 42;

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     (12) Any establishment granted a license pursuant to this chapter shall notify the

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department, within seven (7) days, of its business address;

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     (13) Establishment licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire one year from the

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date of issuance. Applications for renewal must be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the

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expiration date, and must be accompanied by a renewal application, and other information as

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required by the department.

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     (c) The licensing fee to obtain a body works establishment license, and any renewal

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thereof shall be one hundred dollars ($100). A body works establishment license is non-

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transferable.

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     5-89-4. Body works personnel license required. -- (a) Any person who seeks

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employment at a body works establishment must obtain a body works personnel license issued by

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the department before performing or offering to perform any body works services for hire,

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compensation, or reward; before being compensated for any services or work in any

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establishment; and before conducting any type of business for reward, hire, or compensation

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within any establishment.

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     (b) The department shall require an applicant to provide the following information:

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     (1) The full legal name and any other names used by the applicant;

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     (2) The current residential address and telephone number of the applicant, and any other

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residential or business address used by the applicant within five (5) years prior to the application

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date;

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     (3) A copy of the applicant's driver's license, or any other state or government issued

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identification. In no event shall any person under the age of eighteen (18) years of age be granted

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a license;

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     (4) The applicant's business, occupation, or employment history for the five (5) years

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immediately preceding the date of the application;

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     (5) Whether the applicant has previously possessed a license within five (5) years of the

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application date, and whether any such license has previously been suspended or revoked, and the

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reasons therefor;

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     (6) Whether the applicant has been convicted or pled nolo contendere to any felony or

 

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misdemeanor in this state, or any other jurisdiction;

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     (7) The name(s) of the establishment at which the applicant plans to be employed, if

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known at the time of the application, and whether the applicant intends to provide body works

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services off-site, or at private residences or other locations if the applicant is to be self-employed.

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If the applicant intends to work at multiple businesses, they shall designate a primary address for

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receiving all correspondence related to their license renewal;

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     (8) Any other information that the department shall request as part of the application

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process;

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     (9) All applicants shall execute a waiver or authorization authorizing the department to

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conduct a criminal background check of the applicant as part of the application process. No

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application shall be processed until all information is provided, any background checks complete

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and all fees are paid;

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     (10)(i) The department, consistent with its obligations contained herein, shall promulgate

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standards and guidelines establishing whether any prior criminal history of an applicant, partner,

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officer or director should be grounds for denial of a license. The department shall consider

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whether any criminal conviction of an applicant poses a threat to the customers of the personnel

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or establishment, or whether any offense is a crime of violence, which would pose a threat to the

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customers of the personnel or establishment. The existence of a criminal conviction or plea of

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nolo contendere of any applicant shall not automatically be a bar to the applicant's license;

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     (ii) In the event that the department determines that a license shall not be granted based

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on the criminal history of an applicant, it shall provide the applicant, partner, officer or director

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an opportunity to request a hearing to contest such a denial. Appeals of any denial after such a

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hearing shall be governed by the provisions contained in chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative

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procedures act);

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     (11) Any person granted a license pursuant to this chapter shall notify the department,

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within seven (7) days, of any change of residential or business address.

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     (12) Personnel licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire one year from the date

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of issuance. Applications for renewal must be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the

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expiration date, and must be accompanied by a renewal application, and other information as

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required by the department.

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     (c) The licensing fee to obtain a body works personnel license, and any renewal thereof

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shall be sixty dollars ($60.00). A body works personnel license is non-transferable.

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     5-89-5. Exceptions and exclusions. – (a) Physicians, nurses, physical therapists, school

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athletic trainers, chiropodists, chiropractors, massage therapist, barbers, hair dressers, manicurist,

 

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estheticians and any other business duly licensed by the state under this title are exempt from the

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license requirements of this chapter.

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     (b) Hospitals, nursing, convalescent homes, and any other person, entity, firm or

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corporation providing health care services, and other similar licensed institutions, where massage

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and baths may be given as part of a course of health care, are exempt from the license

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requirements of this chapter.

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     5-89-6. Authority to promulgate rules. -- The department is hereby directed to

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formulate rules and regulations governing body work personnel and body work establishments,

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and to establish fees for the issuance of licenses, including establishing licensing fees for body

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works personnel, fees for licensing of each establishment, as set forth in §§5-89-3 and 5-89-4, and

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for any other fees as the department may establish from time to time.

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     5-89-7. Employee and independent contractor restrictions. -- No establishment shall

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permit any person not holding a valid personnel license to provide or offer to provide any body

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works services, or otherwise conduct any business in the establishment. Nothing contained herein

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shall prevent any establishment from utilizing independent contractors; provided that they are

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duly licensed pursuant to this chapter.

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     5-89-8. Required records. -- Every body works establishment shall maintain records on

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the premises of all personnel. The records shall be subject to inspection upon request by any

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agent of the department. The records shall include the following:

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     (1) Each person's full legal name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number,

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employment position, date first employed, and, if applicable, date terminated.

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     (2) Each person's body works personnel license number, and the expiration date of said

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license.

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     (3) All current personnel records and records of all persons associated with the

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establishment for the previous year.

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     5-89-9. Display of licenses. -- (a) Body works personnel license. Every licensee shall

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carry their original personnel license at all times when on the premise of an establishment during

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the hours of operation; provided, further, every licensee shall display their original personnel

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license in a conspicuous manner whenever practicing or providing body works for hire, reward,

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or compensation.

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     (b) Body works establishment license. The body works establishment license shall be

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conspicuously displayed in a public area of the body works establishment at all times.

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     5-89-10. Advertisement. -- (a) No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall

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advertise any body works services, unless such services are to be performed by a licensed body

 

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works personnel;

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     (b) No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall advertise any body works

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establishment unless the advertisement includes the body works establishment license number.

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     5-89-11. Facilities. -- Every establishment licensed pursuant to this chapter shall meet the

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following standards:

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     (1) It shall be connected to the public sewerage system, or an approved private sanitary

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sewage system in the event public sewerage is not available.

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     (2) It shall be well lighted, well ventilated and properly heated when seasonally indicated.

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     (3) No room used by personnel or an establishment to provide body works may be used

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as a residence or sleeping quarters.

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     (4) There shall be sanitary and working bathroom facilities within the premises, readily

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available to the patrons, and affording sufficient privacy. All such facilities shall comply with all

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health and safety codes, and shall be handicapped accessible.

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     (5) Adequate dressing rooms protecting the privacy of patrons and employees shall be

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provided and accessible at all times.

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     (6) All rooms and furniture and equipment including instruments, devices, robes, sheets,

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blankets, pillow cases, towels and any other apparel utilized therein shall be kept clean and sterile

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at all times.

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     5-89-12. Sanitation and decency code. -- (a) All personnel engaged in the practice of

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body works shall wear garments which cover the entire body, exclusive of the head, neck, arms,

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legs, hands and feet. All personnel must be fully covered, from a point not more than four inches

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(4") above the center of the kneecap to the base of the neck, excluding the arms. Such garments

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shall not be transparent, and must be maintained in clean and sanitary condition.

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     (b) It is unlawful for any personnel to directly or indirectly touch or offer to touch a

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customer's specified anatomical areas.

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     (c) All customer's specified anatomical areas must be fully draped at all times while any

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personnel is in the same cubicle or room.

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     (d) No instruments or devices designed or used for direct application to the skin shall be

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applied directly to the skin unless sterilized.

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     (e) All personnel shall thoroughly cleanse their hands by washing with soap and hot

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water immediately before and after providing body works services.

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     (f) The department may, at any time, with or without prior notice, inspect an

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establishment, and investigate the manner of the operation of the establishment to insure that it is

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operating in compliance with this chapter.

 

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     5-89-13. Zoning, municipal ordinances and health and safety codes. -- Any

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establishment licensed under this chapter shall be required to comply with all zoning ordinances

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and land use regulations in the municipality in which it is located. The department may require

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proof that the establishment is in compliance with all relevant zoning ordinances and shall from

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time to time conduct inspections of any establishment to determine whether it is in compliance

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with all municipal and state health, safety, building, fire and safety codes.

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     5-89-14. Warning systems prohibited. -- Devices which can be utilized as an early

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warning system to alert personnel, supervisors, owners, or any other persons to the presence of

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law enforcement, regulatory personnel or any state or local authorities on the premises are

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prohibited in body works establishments. Such prohibited devices include, but are not limited to,

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light or music dimmers, electronic detection devices, external or internal video equipment and

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alarm systems other than those used for fire alarms.

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     5-89-15. Hours of operation. -- No establishment shall offer or provide body works

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services or otherwise be open for business between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

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     5-89-16. Violations. -- No establishment shall cause, allow or permit any violation of any

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criminal law or ordinance violation to occur on its premises, including, but not limited to, any

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proscribed conduct contained in title 11.

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     5-89-17. Enforcement and revocation of license. Each day a separate offense. -- (a)

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Any license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to immediate suspension by the

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department for violation of any provisions of this chapter or any other law, rule or regulation

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established by the department or for any violation of the criminal laws of this state or any

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violation of any ordinance of any municipality in which the establishment is located. Any

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suspension of license shall be in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed as a result

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of a violation.

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     (b) Any person, firm, corporation, or other entity who violates any provision of this

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chapter shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which

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any such entity commits, continues, permits, or causes a violation thereof.

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     (c) Upon the finding of probable cause that a violation has occurred and the personnel's

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or establishment's license suspended, the department shall afford the licensee a hearing to contest

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the suspension order. If after hearing, the department orders the license revoked, the licensee may

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appeal the revocation pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 (the administrative procedures act).

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     (d) Criminal penalties. In addition to any applicable provisions of this chapter or of the

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general laws, any violation of this chapter may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor and punishable as

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follows: upon a first conviction, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100); upon a

 

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second conviction within one year, by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) or by

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imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both; and upon any third or subsequent

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conviction within one year, by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or by

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imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- BODY WORKS SERVICES

ESTABLISHMENTS

***

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     This act would regulate and establish licensing requirements and procedures for operating

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any establishment or personnel in the business of so-called body works services, as opposed to

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massage therapists and would provide for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the act.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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