ORDINANCE #O-2019-01

First Reading: August 27, 2018 Second Reading September 10, 2018 Enacted September 10, 2018 Effective September 10, 2018

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REENACT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF MANASSAS, VIRGINIA (2002), AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING SECTIONS 30-222, 30-223 AND 30-226 OF ARTICLE V ( ORDINANCE) OF CHAPTER 30 (BUSINESSES) RELATED TO SPECIFIC UNLAWFUL ACTS IN MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Manassas, Virginia, meeting in regular session this 10 day of September, 2018 that Sections 30-222, 30-223 and 30-226 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Manassas, Virginia, are hereby amended as follows:

ARTICLE V. - MASSAGE ORDINANCE

Sec. 30-220. - Short title.

This article may be referred to as the "Massage Ordinance" of the City of Manassas.

Sec. 30-221. - Declaration of findings and policy.

The City of Manassas finds it necessary and proper to exercise its regulatory authority for the protection of the health, safety and general welfare of its citizens by providing for the regulation of and massage establishments.

Sec. 30-222. - Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this article shall, for the purpose of this article, have the meanings set forth below, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Athletic trainer: Any person licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine to engage in the practice of as defined in § 54.1-2900 of the Code of Virginia.

Approved school: Any school recognized by or approved by the Virginia State Council of Higher Education to train students to be certified massage therapists.

Certified massage therapist: Any person who is qualified as a certified massage therapist pursuant to the provisions of Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 54.1-3029.

1

Client: Any person who receives a massage under such circumstances that it is reasonably expected that he or she will pay money or give any other consideration therefor.

Fitness studio/center: Any fixed establishment dedicated to improving the overall physical condition of its clientele by combining various forms of exercises that are designed to improve cardiovascular endurance, increase flexibility, enhance strength, and/or aid in restoring muscle tone.

Massage, massage therapy, and therapeutic massage: The treatment of soft tissues for therapeutic, exercise, or relaxation purposes by the application of massage and bodywork techniques based on the manipulation or application of pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. Massage may include rubbing, stroking, kneading, tapping, pounding, vibrating, or stimulating with the hands or any instrument, or by the application of air, liquid, or vapor baths of any kind. The terms "massage," "massage therapy," and "therapeutic massage" do not include the diagnosis or treatment of illness or disease or any service or procedure for which a license to practice medicine, nursing, chiropractic therapy, , , acupuncture or podiatry is required.

Massage establishment: Any place where a certified massage therapist conducts his or her business and recordkeeping, regardless of whether he or she actually performs massage therapy for clients at that location.

Person: Any individual, co-partnership, firm, association, joint stock company, corporation, or combination of individuals of whatever form or character.

Sexual or genital part: The genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or anus of any person and the breasts of a female person.

Sec. 30-223. - Massages given contrary to this article unlawful.

It shall be unlawful for any person to give a massage to a client within the city unless allowed by section 30-224 of this article. A violation of this section or section 30-226 (Specific Unlawful Acts) is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Sec. 30-224. - Persons permitted to give massages to clients.

Only the following persons, while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective professions, may give massages to one or more clients:

(1) Certified massage therapists compliant with section 30-225 of this article.

(2) A person licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a physician, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, occupational therapist, or physical therapist, or their employees, so long as the employees are under the licensed individual's direction and supervision.

2

(3) A nurse licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia who acts under the direction of any person described in subsection (2) hereof.

(4) Employees of nursing homes, medical clinics, and hospitals duly licensed by the commonwealth, when acting within the scope of their employment and under the direction and supervision of a licensed health care professional.

(5) Athletic trainers for any amateur, semi-professional, or professional athlete or athletic team, as well as athletic trainers employed by a fitness studio/center, when providing massages to any bona fide member of that athletic trainer's athletic team or client of the athletic trainer's fitness studio/center.

(6) A person licensed to engage in barbering or cosmetology by the Commonwealth of Virginia, but only for the purposes of administering massages to the scalp, face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, or feet.

(7) A student of an approved school as defined by section 30-222 of this article, provided the student is identified as a student and is acting under the direction and supervisions of a certified massage therapist at all times while providing services to the client.

Sec. 30-225. - Display of certificate.

Each certified massage therapist shall conspicuously post his or her current certificate issued by the State Board of Nursing pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Virginia, § 54.1-3029, in a public area at his or her massage establishment. In the case of an off-premises massage, a certified massage therapist shall present his or her certificate upon request.

Sec. 30-226. – Specific Unlawful Acts.

(a) It shall be unlawful for a certified massage therapist or for any person providing a massage in a massage establishment to:

(1) Place his or her hands upon, to touch with any part of his or her body, to fondle in any manner, or to massage a sexual or genital part of a client;

(2) Expose his or her sexual or genital parts or any portion thereof to a client;

(3) Expose the sexual or genital parts or any portion thereof of a client; or,

(4) Fail to conceal with a fully opaque covering the sexual or genital parts of his or her body while in the presence of a client.

3

(b) It shall be unlawful for a client of a massage establishment to:

(1) Place his or her hands upon, to touch with any part of his or her body, to fondle in any manner, or to massage a sexual or genital part of a certified massage therapist, or of any person providing a massage in a massage establishment;

(2) Expose his or her sexual or genital parts or any portion thereof to a certified massage therapist, or to any person providing a massage in a massage establishment;

(3) Expose the sexual or genital parts or any portion thereof of a certified massage therapist, or to any person providing a massage in a massage establishment; or,

(4) Fail to conceal with a fully opaque covering the sexual or genital parts of his or her body while in the presence of a certified massage therapist, or to any person providing a massage in a massage establishment.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, operating, or managing a massage establishment to knowingly cause, allow or permit, in or about such massage establishment, any agent, employee or any other person under his control or supervision to perform any act prohibited by this section.

2. This Ordinance shall be effective upon its passage on second reading.

Harry J. Parrish II Mayor

On Behalf of the City Council of Manassas, Virginia

ATTEST:

______Andrea P. Madden City Clerk

MOTION: BASS SECOND: AVENI RE: ORDINANCE #O-2019-01 ACTION: APPROVED

4

Votes: Ayes: Aveni, Bass, Elston, Lovejoy, Sebesky, and Wolfe Nays: None Absent from Vote: None Absent from Meeting: None

5