DATE: March 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Adoption of Amendment to the Ordinance Code of Fresno County,
Adding Chapter 6.39, "County of Fresno Massage Establishment and Out Call
Massage Services Ordinance" to Title 6, "Business Licenses and Regulations"
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Conduct second hearing and adopt an Ordinance amending the Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 6, to add Chapter 6.39, "County of Fresno Massage Establishment and Out Call Massage Services Ordinance.
REPORT
The recommended action adds Chapter 6.39, "County of Fresno Massage Establishment and Out Call Massage Services Ordinance" to Title 6, "Business Licenses and Regulations" to the Ordinance Code of Fresno County to properly recognize that lawful commercial massage therapy is a respected professional pursuit that can offer the public valuable health and therapeutic services. However, unless properly regulated, the practice of massage therapy and the operation of massage establishments may be associated with unlawful activity, and may pose a threat to the quality of life in the local community. Accordingly, it is the purpose and intent of this recommended ordinance to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by providing for orderly regulation of businesses providing massage therapy services, to prevent blighting conditions and discourage prostitution/human trafficking and related illegal activities carried on under the guise of massage therapy, and establish certain sanitation, health and operational standards for massage establishments. California Government Code sections 51030 through 51034 provide that the authority for the legislative body of a county for unincorporated areas may enact an ordinance which provides for licensing for regulation of the business of massage. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could determine not to approve the recommended action; howe...
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