DATE: February 25, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Proposed 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
1. Conduct first hearing to amend the Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 6, to add Chapter 6.39, "County of Fresno Massage Establishment and Out Call Massage Services Ordinance;" waive reading of the Ordinance in its entirety; and set the second hearing for March 24, 2020;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code, Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
The recommended actions add 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 chapter 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 secti...
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