As used in subsection (c) of section 19a-14, and sections 20-206a to 20-206g, inclusive:

(a) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health.

(b) “Department” means the Department of Public Health.

(c) “Massage therapist” means a person who has been licensed to practice massage therapy under the provisions of sections 20-206a to 20-206f, inclusive.

(d) “Massage therapy” means the systematic and scientific manipulation and treatment of the soft tissues of the body, by use of pressure, friction, stroking, percussion, kneading, vibration by manual or mechanical means, range of motion and nonspecific stretching. Massage therapy may include the use of oil, ice, hot and cold packs, tub, shower, steam, dry heat, or cabinet baths, for the purpose of, but not limited to, maintaining good health and establishing and maintaining good physical and mental condition. Massage therapy does not encompass (1) diagnosis, the prescribing of drugs or medicines, spinal or other joint manipulations, (2) any service or procedure for which a license to practice medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, physical therapy, or podiatry is required by law, or (3) Thai yoga practiced by a person who is registered as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance Registry and has completed two hundred hours of training in Thai yoga.

(e) “Massage” has the same meaning as “massage therapy”, as defined in subsection (d) of this section.

(P.A. 88-362, S. 6; P.A. 92-202, S. 1, 5; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 07-35, S. 1; P.A. 13-37, S. 2; P.A. 14-122, S. 122.)

History: P.A. 92-202 amended Subsec. (c) to substitute “licensed” for “certified”, effective June 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-35 made definitions applicable to Secs. 20-206a to 20-206g, changed “Connecticut licensed massage therapist” to “massage therapist” and replaced “20-206c” with “20-206f” in Subsec. (c) and added Subsec. (e) defining “massage”, effective January 1, 2008; P.A. 13-37 amended Subsec. (d) to redefine “massage therapy” by adding provision re Thai yoga and making technical changes; P.A. 14-122 made a technical change in Subsec. (e).