Sec. 455.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation.

(1-a) "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(2) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department.

(3) "Instructor" means a person who instructs a student in any section of the course of instruction required for a massage therapist license.

(4) "Internship program" means a program supervised by a massage therapy instructor in which a student provides massage therapy to the public.

(5) "Massage establishment" means a place of business that advertises or offers massage therapy or other massage services. The term includes a place of business that advertises or offers any service described by a derivation of the terms "massage therapy" or "other massage services."

(6) "Massage school" means an entity that:

(A) teaches at a minimum the course of instruction required for a massage therapist license; and

(B) has at least two instructors.

(7) "Massage therapist" means a person who practices or administers massage therapy or other massage services to a client for compensation. The term includes a licensed massage therapist, therapeutic massage practitioner, massage technician, masseur, masseuse, myotherapist, body massager, body rubber, or any derivation of those titles.

(8) "Massage therapy" means the manipulation of soft tissue by hand or through a mechanical or electrical apparatus for the purpose of body massage and includes effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (percussion), compression, vibration, friction, nerve strokes, and Swedish gymnastics. The terms "massage," "therapeutic massage," "massage technology," "myotherapy," "body massage," "body rub," or any derivation of those terms are synonyms for "massage therapy."

(9) "Massage therapy instructor" means a licensed massage therapist who provides to one or more students instruction approved by the department in massage therapy.

(10) "Sexually oriented business" has the meaning assigned by Section 243.002, Local Government Code, unless another meaning applies under local law.

(11) "Other massage services" include any services offered or performed for compensation at a massage establishment that involve physical contact with a client, and may include the use of oil, lubricant, salt glow, a heat lamp, a hot and cold pack, or a tub, shower, jacuzzi, sauna, steam, or cabinet bath.

(12) "Advisory board" means the Massage Therapy Advisory Board.

(13) "Peace officer" means a person who is a peace officer under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1300 (H.B. 2696), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 838 (S.B. 202), Sec. 1.239, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1105 (H.B. 4007), Sec. 6.001, eff. September 1, 2017.