Texas Occupations Code § 455.001 Definitions

Sec. 455.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:


Text of subdivision effective until September 01, 2017


(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.


Text of subdivision effective on September 01, 2017


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


Text of subdivision effective on September 01, 2017


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


Text of subdivision effective until September 01, 2017


(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.


Text of subdivision effective on September 01, 2017


(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.

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.

Section: 455.001  455.002  455.003  455.004  455.005  455.051  455.052  455.053  455.054  455.055  455.056  455.057  455.058  455.051  Next

Last modified: September 28, 2016