SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Gov. Dennis Daugaard says the state should begin eliminating some unneeded occupational licensure requirements, including massage therapists.
The Republican governor made his comments in Sioux Falls Thursday where U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta told members of the Western Governors’ Association to streamline or eliminate unnecessary licenses that create barriers to jobs.
The Argus Leader reports Daugaard says licensing for massage therapists may have been set up to prevent prostitution, but law enforcement should handle that if prostitution is suspected.
Under state law, those who massage without a license face misdemeanor charges, which carry a penalty of up to one year in prison or a $2,000 fine. In recent years, massage therapists have been critical of the state Board of Massage Therapy, saying it’s an ineffective enforcer.
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Information from: Argus Leader, https://www.argusleader.com
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