Legislation Update

Call to Action!

The NQA Legislation Committee is currently tracking 22 bills around the country. 17 of the bills will impact everyone who teaches and practices Qigong on a Recreational/Preventive, Martial, Clinical/Medical and Religious level.

Are you concerned about your right to teach Qigong and not have to be licensed?
Are you concerned you won’t be able to practice Clinical/Medical Qigong unless you’re licensed?
Are you appalled at the fact that you won’t be able to advertise your services as Qigong?
Are you aware that the licensing boards will not have any representation whatsoever for Qigong and other Holistic modalities?
In order for you to practice Qigong (which is your right) in the park, YMCA, YWCA and other venues, you will have to be licensed!

This may sound farfetched to some of you, but in reality, it is exactly what is going on right now in Massachusetts under Senate Bill S168 and is not, by any means, just in MA. All bills in question, require licensing for Holistic and Energy based modalities.

States that offer protection to Alternative/Complementary medicine through general laws are now getting bills proposing the elimination of said protection. No one is safe, even in those states!

The total loss of self-governance and representation is on the brink of happening to Qigong. You will be required to have a massage therapist, bodywork or acupuncture license depending on the state.

Please join us in our fight to keep Qigong our own and to self-govern. We are looking for individuals to help at the state level. We need boots on the ground to contact others in like-minded organizations, speak to legislators and serve as liaisons.

Please contact our Legislation Committee:

Legislation Committee Contact Form

NQA Leadership Protecting your Right to Practice Qigong Safely. This time, in Massachusetts!

Massachusetts S168 bill had a public hearing on 28 October, 2019. No vote was taken and a closed hearing was scheduled for 8 February, 2020. Those attending on behalf of the NQA were Laura Kandziolka (NQA Vice President) and Tom Bowman (Legislation Chair).

UPDATE FEBRUARY 13, 2020: MA S168 was sent to study by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and is dead for this legislative session. On behalf of the NQA, we want to thank everyone for their efforts the past 6 months, the NQA's crew consisted of Laura Kandziolka (VP), Dr. Bernard Shannon (BOD Chair) and the Legislation Committee members.

L to R: Tom Bowman (NQA), Dr. Effie Chow, MA Rep./Sifu Donald Wong, Laura Kanziolka (NQA) and CJ Rhoades (IMTQA).

L to R: Tom Bowman (NQA), Dr. Effie Chow, MA Rep./Sifu Donald Wong, Laura Kandziolka (NQA) and CJ Rhoades (IMTQA)

States with bills currently under consideration are:

State	Bill #	Description and Link to Bill	Status
Illinois	SB1841	This bill will affect those Qigong practitioners who practice Qigong/Oriental Massage techniques. Please join along with the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) to fight its implementation. Goes into effect on January 1,2019. MORE INFO	Passed
Iowa	SF261	Requires the provider of Alternative Health Care to inform the patient of non-state Licensure. MORE INFO	Committee
	HF332	Requires the provider of Alternative Health Care to inform the patient of non-state Licensure. MORE INFO	Committee
Kansas	HB2184	Mainly Massage Therapy, could by definition include Qigong meridian massage etc. Further clarification needed regarding TCM/CCM application. MORE INFO	Committee
Massachusetts	SB168	Puts Qigong under Massage/Bodywork Licensure Board. MORE INFO	Committee
Nevada	SB355	Creates a board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. MORE INFO	Passed
New York	A05984	Clarification needed is TCM separate from European Reflexology practices. MORE INFO	Committee
Rhode Island	SO215	Would put Qigong under Acupuncture. MORE INFO	Committee
	S0576	As of Rewrite, Qigong exempted. MORE INFO	Passed
	H5570	Would put Qigong under Acupuncture. MORE INFO	Committee
	H6033	As of rewrite, Qigong was exempted. MORE INFO	Passed
Washington	SB5794	Makes Qigong a part of Acupuncture. MORE INFO	Committee
	H1865	Makes Qigong a part of Acupuncture. MORE INFO	Passed

The National Qigong Association is a 501c3, volunteer led, non-profit corporation whose mission is to educate people about Qigong, in its many forms, providing opportunities to come together, share, explore and grow as a community. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of the association and help us fulfill our mission which includes protecting the energetic arts we love from those who seek to control or eliminate our ability to practice and teach in our communities. Please consider joining us and help keep Qigong available for all who seeks its many health benefits.