(a) It is unlawful for any person to act as a massage technician or a massage technician trainee unless such person holds a valid permit issued by the chief of police or a certification from the CAMTC. A massage technician permit shall be issued to any person who has fulfilled the requirements of Section 4.54.080, and all other provisions of this code or state law, as applicable; unless grounds for denial of such permit are found to exist. In addition to those set forth in Section 4.04.140, grounds for denial include:
(1) The applicant made a material misstatement in the application for a permit;
(2) The applicant has, within five years immediately precedingthe date of the filing of the application, been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of an offense involving conduct which requires registration under California Penal Code Section 290, or any violations of Sections 311 through 311.7, 313.1, 314, 315, 316, 318 or 647(a), 647(b), 647(d), or 647(h) of the California Penal Code, or of any offense involving theft of property or violence;
(3) That the issuance of the permit is likely to be injurious to the health, safety, welfare, and interest of the people of the city;
(4) That the applicant is lacking in the background and qualifications to act as a massage technician; or
(5) That the applicant has violated any provision of this chapter, or of any similar ordinance, law, rule or regulation of another public agency which regulates the operation of massage establishments or massage technicians.
(6) That the CAMTC has revoked, suspended, or denied the applicant a permit.
(b) A permit issued by the chief of police is not required for any massage technician and massage establishments if the owners and all technicians are massage practitioners or therapists, who are operating under a valid certificate issued by the Massage Therapist Organization (also known as the California Massage Therapy Council), per Chapter 10.5 (Commencing with Section 4600) of Division 2 of the California Business and Professions Code relating to massage therapy, provided however, that such person and business shall not be exempted from this Article if Chapter 10.5 is repealed. However notification of the CAMTC certification number must still be made to the police department where the CAMTC permit holder is working.
(Ord. 5161 § 6, 2012: Ord. 3113 § 5, 1979: Ord. 2921 §§ 2, 9, 1976: Ord. 2833 § 1 (part), 1974)
(a) General educational requirements. Except as indicated below, all applicants for a Massage Technician permit must meet the following educational standards to qualify for such permit, at the discretion of the Chief of Police:
(1) Possession of a diploma or certificate of completion from a "recognized school of massage" which shows satisfactory completion of a resident course of study of a minimum of two hundred (200) verifiable hours on the theory, ethics, history, practice, and/or methods of massage therapy, including the study of anatomy, physiology and hygiene.
(b) Exemptions from educational requirements. The following persons are exempt from the educational requirements set forth in subsection (a) above:
(1) Holders of Massage Establishment business permits and Massage Technician business permits issued by the City before the effective date of this Chapter shall have a period of eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this Chapter to satisfy the educational requirements set forth in subsection (a) above.
(2) Eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this ordinance, any therapist who does not have the required 200 hours of education will not be permitted to practice massage in Palo Alto. However, the chief of police may provide special consideration on a case-by-case basis to those massage technicians who can prove through documentation that they are currently enrolled in coursework associated with massage therapy and compliance of the 200 hour requirement is expected within a reasonable amount of time.
(3) Applicants for noncertified massage practitioner permits or applicants for noncertified massage establishments permits.
(Ord. 5161 § 7, 2012)