South Dakota HB 1102, recently introduced in the South Dakota legislature, proposes to amend the state's massage therapist licensing law by removing the high school graduation requirement for licensure. The bill also clarifies that the Massage Board has authority to grant a massage therapist license to an applicant even though he or she "has been convicted of, or pled guilty to a felony, any crime involving or relating to the practice of massage, or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude," if the Board determines that "the plea or conviction is of a nature or is sufficiently remote in time that the applicant does not constitute a risk to public safety."
These are specific issues that the Massage Board has found to be barriers for licensure for applicants they thought were fit for practice. We will keep you updated on any important developments on this bill.