SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A new state law aimed at cracking down on illicit massage businesses is going into full effect in March. The state hopes this will help combat human trafficking.
Signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox last March, House Bill 278 focuses on improving transparency in massage therapy establishments by allowing regulators to conduct inspections.
Additionally, it requires owners and operators to register with the state, pass criminal background checks, and certify they are not engaged in trafficking before they continue operating. Every business will also need to display its state license.
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This comes after new research found that the number of illicit massage businesses may be much higher than previously thought…