§ 480.0535 — Documents required while working in a massage establishment; penalties; reporting

Florida § 480.0535

• Jurisdiction: Florida
• Title: XXXII
• Ch. 480: MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE

Text

(1) In order to provide the department and law enforcement agencies the means to more effectively identify, investigate, and arrest persons engaging in human trafficking, an employee and any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment must immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer, valid government identification while in the establishment. An investigator of the department must request valid government identification from all employees while in the establishment. A valid government identification for the purposes of this section is: (a) A valid, unexpired driver license issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States; (b) A valid, unexpired identification card issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States; (c) A valid, unexpired United States passport; (d) A naturalization certificate issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security; (e) A valid, unexpired alien registration receipt card (green card); or (f) A valid, unexpired employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

(2) A person operating a massage establishment must: (a) Immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer: 1. Valid government identification while in the establishment. 2. A copy of the documentation specified in paragraph (1)(a) for each employee and any person performing massage therapy in the establishment. 3. A copy of the documents required under s. 480.043(14)(d) and (f). (b) Ensure that each employee and any person performing massage therapy in the massage establishment is able to immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer, valid government identification while in the establishment.

(3) A person who violates this section commits: (a) For a first violation, a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (b) For a second violation, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (c) For a third or subsequent violation, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(4) The department shall notify a federal immigration office if a person operating a massage establishment, an employee, or any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment fails to provide valid government identification as required under this section.

Legislative History

s. 2, ch. 2012-97; s. 16, ch. 2021-143; s. 8, ch. 2024-148.