BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The City of Bowling Green is considering a new ordinance that aims to put an end to human trafficking disguised as massage businesses.

Melissa Strautman, co-owner of MassageFIX and a licensed clinical massage therapist for over two decades, is advocating for the ordinance that would regulate massage facilities.

If passed, massage therapy clinics would have to get an annual license from the city’s Department of Finance. Violations would be punished with license removal, fines and possible prosecution.

The goal is to identify legitimate businesses from illegal operations that could be a front for human trafficking.

“They disguise themselves as massage when they’re not massage,” Strautman said.

The ordinance would also require criminal background checks for owners,

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