Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A new ordinance approved by the Bucks County Commissioners will regulate massage therapy businesses in an effort to curb human trafficking.
The Bucks County Health Department will license the businesses. The health department already inspects and licenses food establishments, farms, food trucks, campgrounds, pools, rental housing, and certain types of vehicles, said Joe Khan, the county’s chief counsel and head of the law department.
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Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie said a lot of work went into creating the ordinance.
The ordinance was approved during Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Massage parlors, in some cases, can be hives for human trafficking and illegal sex businesses. The Polaris Project, a nonprofit that fights sex and labor trafficking, estimated in 2018 that 9,000 illicit massage parlors operate in America.
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Some massage parlors in Bucks County have been linked to human trafficking, leading to local, county, state, and federal law enforcement investigations.
“This modern day slavery is able to thrive in these massage parlors under the front of a legitimate business, but that is were forced sex work is occurring and unfair labor practices. This ordinance seeks to root out these,” said Chelsey Jackman, a county lawyer and former county prosecutor who focused on human trafficking.
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Jackman explained Bucks County’s many municipalities have a myriad of ordinances to tackle the issue. She noted the countywide ordinance would fill the voids and harnesses the resources of county government.
The health department will check for the cleanliness of the massage parlors as they inspect.
Businesses would have until November 15 to apply for a license. There would also be a grace period for businesses that need it, Jackman said.
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Mike Bannon, the head of Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights and Measures, said his agency will work with the health department and law department to regulate the businesses that may be taking part in unlawful activity.
Bannon said there are many legitimate massage parlors, but none need to be open until 3 a.m. He said a compliance investigator to deal with unfair labor issues and respond to complaints was being added to the staff.
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The agency will accept complaints from the public on their website.
Inspectors would be able to impose compliance fees for businesses not following the ordinance. Violations that are more serious could lead to $100 to $1,000 fines imposed by a district judge and up to 10 days in jail for indecent exposure or unlawful touching.
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Harvie said law enforcement will be involved in filing charges for serious offenses.
Jackman said quality massage businesses shouldn’t have any worries and the rules fall in line with industry standards.
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Middletown Township Board of Supervisors Chairperson Mike Ksiazek, who works as an attorney, commended the county for enacting the ordinance. He said Middletown Township’s ordinance has already stopped some shady massage parlors from operating.
Khan, the county’s chief lawyer, said other counties in the country have rules like the one approved, but none currently exist in Pennsylvania.
“Human trafficking will not thrive under our watch,” Jackman said.
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