Florida Statute 480.0535 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

Chapter 480
MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE

View Entire Chapter

F.S. 480.0535

480.0535 Documents required while working in a massage establishment; penalties; reporting.—

(1) In order to provide the department and law enforcement agencies the means to more effectively identify, investigate, and arrest persons engaging in human trafficking, an employee and any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment must immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer, valid government identification while in the establishment. An investigator of the department must request valid government identification from all employees while in the establishment. A valid government identification for the purposes of this section is:

(a) A valid, unexpired driver license issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States;

(b) A valid, unexpired identification card issued by any state, territory, or district of the United States;

(d) A naturalization certificate issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;

(e) A valid, unexpired alien registration receipt card (green card); or

(f) A valid, unexpired employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

(2) A person operating a massage establishment must:

(a) Immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer:

1. Valid government identification while in the establishment.

2. A copy of the documentation specified in paragraph (1)(a) for each employee and any person performing massage therapy in the establishment.

3. A copy of the documents required under s. 480.043(14)(d) and (f).

(b) Ensure that each employee and any person performing massage therapy in the massage establishment is able to immediately present, upon the request of an investigator of the department or a law enforcement officer, valid government identification while in the establishment.

(3) A person who violates this section commits:

(a) For a first violation, a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b) For a second violation, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c) For a third or subsequent violation, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(4) The department shall notify a federal immigration office if a person operating a massage establishment, an employee, or any person performing massage therapy in a massage establishment fails to provide valid government identification as required under this section.

History.—s. 2, ch. 2012-97; s. 16, ch. 2021-143; s. 8, ch. 2024-148.

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Amendments to 480.0535

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 480.0535

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S480.0535 1 - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE EMP FAIL TO PROVIDE GOVT ID FIRST OFF - M: S

S480.0535 1 - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE EMP FAIL TO PROVIDE GOVT ID 2ND OFF - M: F

S480.0535 1 - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE EMP FAIL PROVIDE GOVT ID 3RD SUBS OFF - F: T

S480.0535 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE OPER FAIL TO PROVIDE GOVT ID 1ST OFF - M: S

S480.0535 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE OPER FAIL TO PROVIDE GOVT ID 2ND OFF - M: F

S480.0535 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE OPER FAIL PROVIDE GOVT ID 3RD SUB OFF - F: T

S480.0535 2b - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASS OPER FAIL PROVIDE EMP GOVT ID 1ST OFF - M: S

S480.0535 2b - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASS OPER FAIL PROVIDE EMP GOVT ID 2ND OFF - M: F

S480.0535 2b - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASS OPER FAIL PROV EMP GOVT ID 3RD SUB OFF - F: T

S480.0535 3a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE ESTAB VIOL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 1ST OFF - M: S

S480.0535 3b - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE ESTAB VIOL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 2ND OFF - M: F

S480.0535 3c - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - MASSAGE ESTAB VIOL REQ DOCUMENTS 3RD SUB OFF - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 480.0535

Total Results: 1

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Rreport No. 2012-08

131 So. 3d 692, 2013 WL 6124277

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 21, 2013 | Docket: 60238156

Cited 2 times | Published

[WORKING IN] [OPERATING] A MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT § 480.0535, Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of Failure to