SENATE DOCKET, NO. 272        FILED ON: 1/10/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Julian Cyr

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to gender-affirming hair removal treatment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 272        FILED ON: 1/10/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 621 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

An Act relative to gender-affirming hair removal treatment.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 11A of chapter 13, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

There shall be a board of allied health professions, hereinafter called the board, which shall consist of 15 members who are residents of the commonwealth to be appointed by the governor. Three of such members shall be qualified athletic trainers licensed in accordance with section 23B of chapter 112; 2 of such members shall be occupational therapists licensed in accordance with said section 23B; 1 such member shall be an occupational therapy assistant licensed in accordance with said section 23B; 2 of such members shall be physical therapists licensed in accordance with said section 23B; 1 such member shall be a physical therapist assistant licensed in accordance with said section 23B; 1 of such member shall be an electrologist licensed in accordance with said section 23B; 1 of such member shall be a physician licensed in accordance with section 2 of chapter 112; and 1 such member shall be selected from and shall represent the general public.

SECTION 2. Said section 11A of said chapter 13, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “or physical therapy”, in lines 51 and 52, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- physical therapy or electrolysis.

SECTION 3. Section 23B of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 8, the words “and physical therapist assistants” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , physical therapist assistants and licensed electrologists.

SECTION 4. The first paragraph of said section 23B of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- An applicant who furnishes satisfactory proof that they are of good moral character and that they have met the educational and clinical practice requirements set forth in section 23F, 23G, 23H, 23I, 23J or 23J½, shall, upon payment of a fee determined by the secretary of administration and finance, be examined by the board, and if found qualified, and if the applicant passes the examination, shall be licensed to practice.

SECTION 5. Section 23C of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “assistant”, in line 4, the following words:- or licensed electrologist.

SECTION 6. Said section 23C of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “chapter”, in line 11, the following words:- ; as a licensed electrologist.

SECTION 7. Section 23D of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “physical therapist assistant”, in line 3, the following words:- , or a licensed electrologist.

SECTION 8. Section 23E of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “assistant”, in line 8, the following words:- or licensed electrologist.

SECTION 9. Said section 23E of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “therapy”, in line 14, the following words:- or electrolysis.

SECTION 10. Said section 23E of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “physical therapy services”, in line 21, the following words:- or electrolysis.

SECTION 11. Said section 23E of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “physical therapist”, in line 24, the following words:- or licensed electrologist.

SECTION 12. Said chapter 112 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 23J the following section:-

Section 23J½. An applicant for licensure as an electrologist shall:

(i) be at least 18 years of age;

(ii) have submitted a completed application upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by applicable fees;

(iii) have met the education and clinical standards established for licensed electrologists by the Massachusetts Association of Electrologists and have passed an examination adopted or administered by the board; and

(iv) have completed such other requirements as may be prescribed by the board.

SECTION 13. Section 23K of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “physical therapy”, in line 9, the following words:- , or electrolysis.

SECTION 14. Section 23L of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “or physical therapist assistant” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- physical therapist assistant, or licensed electrologist."