Requires mandatory continuing education for cosmetologists and barbers; provides that during each four year license renewal period cosmetologists and barbers shall complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education and shall be issued a certificate of completion to be submitted with their application for renewal of their cosmetology and/or barbering license.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10457
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the general business law, in relation
to requiring continuing education for the practice of cosmetology and
barbering
PURPOSE:
To require that cosmetologists and barbers complete 36 hours of continu-
ing education, including 4 hours of training to recognize domestic
violence and/or human trafficking, in order to renew their license and
continue providing cosmetology and barbering services
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the general business law by adding sections 401-a and
432-a, to require that cosmetologists and barbers complete 36 hours of
continuing education in order to renew their license, including at least
4 hours of training to recognize domestic violence and/or human traf-
ficking.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Continuing education is necessary for this industry to ensure the safety
of guests and providers, to reduce the instance of lawsuits brought on
by guests, to elevate the professionalism of the industry and to ensure
that providers are keeping current with a continuously changing indus-
try.
Manufacturers are developing new products/colors on a regular basis and
it is overwhelming for even a seasoned professional to keep up. Today's
chemical services are long and complex, using many varied
brands/products in one service. In order to ensure the safety of their
guests, it is important that cosmetology and barbering professionals
stay up to date on the chemical makeups of the products they use, and
the proper way to apply product without harming guests. Similar legis-
lation has been implemented for Cosmetologists in 9 states, Nail Techni-
cians in 21 states, and Aestheticians in 23 states.
Beyond continuing education related to chemical services, other tech-
niques and product knowledge, it's important that professionals in this
industry be trained to spot and report domestic violence and human traf-
ficking. Professionals in this industry develop close relationships with
their clientele and can often see signs of abuse, whether from a spouse,
a parent, or someone else. Requiring continuing education around domes-
tic abuse and human trafficking is one more way that we can combat those
issues.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take place immediately.
