The people and citizens of the Borough of Steelton,
acting by and through their duly elected governing body, this Borough
Council, are aware that the practice of body massage under certain
circumstances can scientifically promote physical well-being by relieving
and relaxing muscle tension, stimulating vascular circulation which
enhances the disposition of waste products generated by muscular exercise
and assisting in the development of muscle tone through a form of
passive exercise. It is further recognized that the physical contact
involved in such practice can provide a source of communication of
disease for which the health and safety of the community requires
local government control and supervision. This Council further recognizes
that various businesses operating under the guise of practicing body
massage, sometimes called "massage parlors," are intended to stimulate
sexual and erotic reactions which this Council believes is contrary
to the morals and welfare of this Borough. In addition to regulating
the legitimate and bona fide practice of massage, this Borough Council
intends to prohibit and prevent the abuse of said practice for sexual
and erotic stimulation purposes.
For the purposes of this article, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this
section:
MASSAGE
Any method of pressure on, or friction against, or stroking,
kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, vibrating or stimulating of
the external soft parts of the body with the hands or with the aid
of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliance, with or without
such supplementary aids as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics,
oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments or other similar preparations
commonly used in this practice.
MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment having a fixed place of business where
any person, partnership, corporation or association engages in, carries
on, or permits to be engaged in or carried on, the practice of massage
as is defined above, but shall exclude licensed hospitals, licensed
nursing homes, medical clinics and the offices and quarters of licensed
health profession practitioners.
MASSAGE TECHNICIAN
Any masseur (male) or masseuse (female) who engages in the
practice of massage for any consideration whatsoever, but shall exclude
persons licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to practice healing
arts (i.e., medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, physical therapy, nursing,
chiropractic) and barbers, beauticians and manicurists insofar as
they deal with the head, hands and feet.
PERSON
Any individual or any firm, partnership, corporation or other
association of individuals or group acting as a unit.
SEXUAL OR GENITAL AREA
Includes the genital organs, pubic area, anus or perineum
of any person; the penis or scrotum of any male person; the vulva,
vaginal cavity or breasts of any female person.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage
in, conduct or carry on the practice of massage in the Borough of
Steelton without first having obtained a massage technician license
from the Borough Secretary.
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain,
operate or conduct a massage establishment in the Borough of Steelton
without first having obtained a massage establishment license from
the Borough Secretary.
Within 30 days after receiving a complete application
for a massage technician license, the Borough Secretary may issue
said license to the applicant unless said Secretary determines that
the applicant is under the age of 18 years or has been convicted of
or has forfeited bond or bail on a charge of violating a criminal
law or ordinance within five years immediately preceding the filing
of the application involving sexual misconduct, dishonesty, fraud
or deceit or is not free from a contagious or communicable disease.
No massage establishment shall be issued a permit,
nor operated, established or maintained in the Borough unless an inspection
by the Borough Secretary, or his designee, reveals that the establishment
complies with each of the following minimum requirements:
A. Construction of rooms used for toilets, tubs, steam
baths and showers shall be made waterproof with approved waterproof
materials and shall be installed in accordance with the appropriate
building code of the Borough.
B. All massage tables, bathtubs, shower stalls, steam
or bath areas and floors shall have surfaces which may be readily
disinfected.
C. Adequate bathing, dressing and locker facilities shall
be provided for the patrons to be served at any given time. In the
event that male and female patrons are to be served simultaneously,
separate bathing, dressing, locker and massage room facilities shall
be provided.
D. The premises shall have adequate equipment for disinfecting
and sterilizing nondisposable instruments and materials used in administering
massages. Such nondisposable instruments and materials shall be disinfected
after use on each patron.
E. Closed cabinets shall be provided and used for the
storage of clean linens, towels and other materials used in connection
with administering massages. All soiled linens, towels and other materials
shall be kept in properly covered containers or cabinets, which containers
or cabinets shall be kept separate from the clean storage areas.
F. Toilet facilities shall be provided in convenient
locations. When employees and patrons of different sexes are on the
premises at the same time, separate toilet facilities shall be provided
for each sex. A single water closet per sex shall be provided for
each 20 or more employees or patrons of that sex on the premises at
any one time. Urinals may be substituted for half of the water closets
for the male patrons after one water closet has been provided. Toilets
shall be designated as to the sex accommodated therein.
G. Lavatories or washbasins provided with both hot and
cold running water shall be installed in either the toilet room or
a vestibule immediately adjacent thereto. Lavatories or washbasins
shall be provided with soap and a dispenser and with sanitary towels.
H. The premises shall be equipped with a service sink
for custodial supplies.
I. The premises shall comply with all building and safety
codes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and this Borough.
The license of a massage establishment shall
be displayed and each massage technician shall display his or her
respective valid licenses in a conspicuous place within the massage
establishment in such manner that the same may be readily seen by
persons upon entering the establishment.
All licenses issued hereunder are nontransferable.
Said licenses are issued only for a given geographical premises in
the case of a massage establishment license and to a specific person
in the case of the massage technician license.