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A07924 Summary:

BILL NOA07924A
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORPretlow
 
COSPNSRZinerman
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd Gen Bus L, generally
 
Relates to the practice of natural hair care and braiding; creates an apprenticeship in such area; makes conforming technical changes.
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A07924 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         7924--A
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     April 15, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of A. PRETLOW, ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to
          the Committee on Economic Development --  committee  discharged,  bill
          amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
          tee
 
        AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the practice of
          natural hair care and braiding

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  The article heading of article 27 of the general business
     2  law, as added by chapter 509 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read  as
     3  follows:
     4                     LICENSING OF NAIL SPECIALTY, NATURAL
     5                      HAIR [STYLING] CARE AND BRAIDING,
     6                          ESTHETICS AND COSMETOLOGY
     7    §  2. Subdivisions 3 and 5 of section 400 of the general business law,
     8  subdivision 3 as added by chapter 509 of the laws of 1992  and  subdivi-
     9  sion  5  as  amended  by chapter 343 of the laws of 1998, are amended to
    10  read as follows:
    11    3. "Licensee" means a person licensed  pursuant  to  this  article  to
    12  engage  in  the  practice  of  natural hair [styling] care and braiding,
    13  esthetics, nail specialty or cosmetology, or to  operate  an  appearance
    14  enhancement  business  in  which  such  practice,  as herein defined, is
    15  provided to the public.
    16    5. a. The practice of "natural hair [styling] care and braiding" means
    17  providing for a fee, or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or
    18  indirect, any of the following services to the hair of  a  human  being:
    19  with  all ranges of hair types and textures, consulting and scalp analy-
    20  sis, hair texture assessment, shampooing, conditioning, providing clean,
    21  botanical and sustainable beauty products which include  clarifying  and
    22  moisturizing  shampoos, leave-in conditioners and steam hydration condi-
    23  tioning, scalp treatments, wellness  practices,  hydration  and  protein

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07619-08-5

        A. 7924--A                          2
 
     1  strengthening    treatments,   clays,   masks,   essential   oils,   and
     2  herbal/botanical rinses, arranging, dressing, twisting,  coiling,  wrap-
     3  ping,  weaving, extending, locking, palm rolling or braiding the hair or
     4  beard  by  either  hand  or mechanical [appliances] equipment, including
     5  using clips, combs, brushes, crochet needles, latch-hook  tools,  inter-
     6  locking  tools,  sewing  blunt-tipped and curve needles, beading pliers,
     7  curlers, rods, rollers, hairpins, scissors, thread and yarn for  styling
     8  natural  textured  hair  or  braids  on  all  ranges  of  hair types and
     9  textures.
    10    b. Such practice  shall  not  include  cutting,  shaving  or  trimming
    11  natural  hair  except that such activities are permissible to the extent
    12  that such activities are incidental to the practice of minor hair  shap-
    13  ing  or  trimming  of naturally textured hair after the installation and
    14  finishing of braid hair extensions, natural hair  styling,  and  natural
    15  hair braiding.
    16    c.  Such  practice shall not include the application of dyes, reactive
    17  chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color  or  to  straighten,
    18  curl,  or  permanently alter the structure of the hair with chemicals or
    19  heat.  Techniques which result in tension on hair roots such as  certain
    20  types  of braiding, weaving, wrapping, locking and extending of the hair
    21  may only be performed by a natural  hair  [styling]  care  and  braiding
    22  licensee  or  cosmetology  licensee  who  has  successfully completed an
    23  approved course of study in such techniques.
    24    § 3. Section 400 of the general business law is amended by adding nine
    25  new subdivisions 5-a, 5-b, 5-c, 5-d, 5-e, 5-f, 5-g, 5-h and 5-i to  read
    26  as follows:
    27    5-a.  "Natural  hair" means all hair types and textures that grow from
    28  the scalp with a natural curl, coil, wave or wiry pattern of the hair.
    29    5-b. "Natural hair  care"  means  the  maintenance  and  overall  care
    30  performed by a natural hair care specialist, a braider or a natural hair
    31  care  or  braiding  apprentice  dedicated  to the health and wellness of
    32  one's hair and scalp through proper tension techniques and  without  the
    33  use of chemicals or the alteration of the structure of the hair.
    34    5-c.  "Textured  hair"  means  textured  hair  types, including curly,
    35  coily, tight coily, afro coily, straight and wavy,  including,  but  not
    36  limited  to,  various  curly, coily, wavy or wiry patterns, combinations
    37  and configurations, hair strands, thickness, and volumes of hair.
    38    5-d. "Textured styles" or  "textured  hair  styling"  means  a  design
    39  created  on  natural  hair  that incorporates varying patterns to create
    40  depth, dimension and visual texture using specific styling practices and
    41  techniques for hair care of all hair types and  textures,  specifically,
    42  curly, coily and afro coily hair, performed by a textured hairstylist or
    43  specialist  who is licensed in natural hair care or cosmetology, includ-
    44  ing arranging, dressing, curly and coily styling, comb  coiling,  finger
    45  coiling,  double  strand  twisting, flat-twisting or the use of curlers,
    46  rods, rollers/hairpins including the preparation of  the  foundation  of
    47  the  hair  through wellness practices in order to preserve the health of
    48  the hair with botanical beauty products  which  include  clarifying  and
    49  moisturizing shampoos, leave-in conditioners, steam hydration condition-
    50  ing,    hydration    and    protein    strengthening   treatments,   and
    51  herbal/botanical rinses; and topical agents  such  as  gels  and  gelee,
    52  hairspray,  foams, mousse, molding muds, moisturizers, oils, pomades, in
    53  conjunction with performing the practice of natural hair care and braid-
    54  ing. Such styling shall include the use of blow dryers and diffusers for
    55  the purpose of drying natural textured styles with indirect heat.

        A. 7924--A                          3
 
     1    5-e. "Braid" means the interlacing of three or more strands  of  hair,
     2  and  can  be  worn  in  a variety of styles, including cornrows, twists,
     3  locs, and box braids with or without added hair fibers.
     4    5-f.  "Braiding"  means the styling practices and techniques performed
     5  by a braid specialist, an individual who specializes in  creating  hair-
     6  styles  utilizing  braiding  techniques  on  all hair types and textures
     7  which  includes  the  use  of  natural  human  hair  or  synthetic  hair
     8  extension/fibers, natural human hair and synthetic blended fibers, deco-
     9  rative  beads, and other hair adornments. Minor hair shaping or trimming
    10  of natural hair or hair extensions necessary for  finishing  braid  hair
    11  extensions  may  occur.   Braiding types and techniques can include, but
    12  are not limited to,  individual  box  braids,  knotless/feed-in  braids,
    13  cornrows,  stitch  cornrows, casamas, plaits, Bantu Knots, or Senegalese
    14  Twists.
    15    5-g. "African braiding" refers to the  cultural  reference  of  tradi-
    16  tional techniques of naturally braiding and cornrowing hair, originating
    17  from African communities within the African diaspora.
    18    5-h.  "Locking"  or  "loc extensions" includes, but is not limited to,
    19  wrapping the hair,  palm  rolling  techniques,  grooming,  interlocking,
    20  crochet  locking,  micro/locking  by  a  loctician, an individual who is
    21  knowledgeable in the practices and techniques of locking all hair  types
    22  and textures, and installing loc extensions including the preparation of
    23  the  foundation  of  the  hair  through  wellness  practices in order to
    24  preserve the health of the hair with  botanical  beauty  products  which
    25  include clarifying and moisturizing shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and
    26  steam  hydration  conditioning  treatments,  hydration  and moisturizing
    27  techniques, protein strengthening treatments, and herbal/botanical rins-
    28  es; and topical agents such as gels and gelee, hairspray, foams, mousse,
    29  molding muds, moisturizers, oils, pomades, in conjunction with  perform-
    30  ing the practice of natural hair care and braiding.
    31    5-i.  "Weaving" and "extensions" means extending natural hair with the
    32  addition of braids, locs or additional textured hair  with  human  hair,
    33  synthetic  fibers,  and  hair  extension;  the making of wigs from human
    34  hair, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions including the preparation of
    35  the foundation of the  hair  through  wellness  practices  in  order  to
    36  preserve  the  health  of  the hair with botanical beauty products which
    37  include clarifying and moisturizing shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and
    38  steam hydration  conditioning  treatments,  hydration  and  moisturizing
    39  techniques, protein strengthening treatments, and herbal/botanical rins-
    40  es; and topical agents such as gels and gelee, hairspray, foams, mousse,
    41  molding  muds, moisturizers, oils, pomades, in conjunction with perform-
    42  ing the practice of natural hair care and braiding.
    43    § 4. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 401 of the general business  law,
    44  subdivision  1 as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2015 and subdivi-
    45  sion 3 as amended by chapter 341 of the laws of 1998, are amended and  a
    46  new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
    47    1.  No  person shall engage in the practice of nail specialty, waxing,
    48  natural hair [styling] care and braiding, esthetics or  cosmetology,  as
    49  defined in section four hundred of this article, without having received
    50  a  license  to  engage in such practice in the manner prescribed in this
    51  article. No person shall act as a trainee or perform any service as such
    52  unless [he or she] such person has obtained a certificate  of  registra-
    53  tion pursuant to this article.
    54    3.  A  person  licensed by any other state or country to practice nail
    55  specialty, waxing, natural hair [styling] care and  braiding,  esthetics
    56  or  cosmetology shall be allowed to practice in New York state for three

        A. 7924--A                          4
 
     1  months or less within any calendar year for the purpose of giving to, or
     2  receiving from, persons who are licensed under this article training  in
     3  current  styles, techniques or materials, provided however, that no such
     4  unlicensed  person  may  provide  services to the public for any fee, or
     5  other compensation, whether direct or indirect.
     6    4. Notwithstanding the  provisions  of  this  section,  an  unlicensed
     7  person  practicing  natural  hair  care and braiding in the state of New
     8  York or any other state or country for at  least  five  years  shall  be
     9  permitted  to  apply  for a temporary license for a one-year period that
    10  allows applicants to be employed at an appearance  enhancement  business
    11  under  the  supervision  of a licensed natural hairstylist or cosmetolo-
    12  gist.   Such applicants shall be issued  such  temporary  license  after
    13  providing  evidence  of such required work experience in a form approved
    14  by the department. After such temporary license has  been  issued,  such
    15  applicants shall be required to fulfill educational requirements in-per-
    16  son,  on-line  or  through  a  hybrid course of study from an accredited
    17  school approved by the New York state  division  of  licensing  services
    18  including  eighty  theory  and  twenty  practical  credits, totaling one
    19  hundred hours of natural hair care and braid styling  course  curriculum
    20  in  infection    and    bacteriology,  alopecia  and scalp disorders and
    21  diseases, salon health and safety protocols,  the  science  of  sanitary
    22  practices,  ergonomics  for overall health and safety, domestic violence
    23  and human trafficking, natural hair care and braiding  technical  theory
    24  and  practical  examination  preparation.  Upon completion of the educa-
    25  tional requirements under this section, and all other mandatory require-
    26  ments, the individual shall be eligible to apply  to  take  a  New  York
    27  state natural hair and braiding practical examination. Upon passing such
    28  examination,  such  individual  shall  receive  a  natural hair care and
    29  braiding license. Additionally, applicants with  prior  braid  expertise
    30  otherwise  qualified  under this subdivision shall provide two certified
    31  letters of recommendation by clients, employees, and/or  coworkers,  two
    32  images  and  one video of such applicant's braiding work. Such temporary
    33  license may be renewed for an additional year if such  applicant  is  in
    34  the  process  of  completing  additional  educational certification. The
    35  secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations  with  input  from  the
    36  advisory  committee established under section four hundred three of this
    37  article to ensure such licensing.
    38    § 5. Section 404 of the general business law, as  amended  by  chapter
    39  664 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
    40    § 404. Rules and regulations. The secretary shall promulgate rules and
    41  regulations  which  establish  standards  for  practice and operation by
    42  licensees and trainees under this article in order to ensure the health,
    43  safety and welfare of the public including licensees and  trainees  when
    44  they  are working within such establishments. Such rules and regulations
    45  shall include, but not be limited to, the sanitary conditions and proce-
    46  dures required to be maintained, a minimum standard of  training  appro-
    47  priate to the duties of nail specialists, trainees, waxers, natural hair
    48  [stylists]  care  and braiding specialists, estheticians, and cosmetolo-
    49  gists and the  provision  of  service  by  nail  specialists,  trainees,
    50  waxers,  natural hair [stylists] care and braiding specialists, estheti-
    51  cians or cosmetologists at remote locations other  than  the  licensee's
    52  home  provided  that  such  practitioner holds an appearance enhancement
    53  business license to operate at a fixed location or is  employed  by  the
    54  holder  of  an  appearance  enhancement  business license.   Regulations
    55  setting forth the educational  requirements  for  nail  specialists  and
    56  trainees  shall include education in the area of causes of infection and

        A. 7924--A                          5
 
     1  bacteriology. Regulations setting forth the educational requirements for
     2  cosmetologists [or], natural hair [stylists] care and braiding  special-
     3  ists and natural hair care and braiding apprentices shall include educa-
     4  tion  regarding  the  provision of services to individuals with all hair
     5  types and textures, including, but not limited to, various curl, coil or
     6  wave patterns, hair strand thicknesses, and  volumes  of  hair.    Addi-
     7  tionally,  such  regulations for natural hair care and braiding special-
     8  ists and natural hair care and braiding apprentices shall include educa-
     9  tion in the area of natural hair care and  braid  techniques,  cause  of
    10  infection  and  bacteriology, alopecia and scalp disorders and diseases,
    11  salon health and safety protocols, the science of sanitary practices and
    12  ergonomics for overall health and safety. In promulgating such rules and
    13  regulations the secretary shall consult with the state education depart-
    14  ment, the advisory committee established pursuant to this  article,  any
    15  other  state  agencies  and private industry representatives from beauty
    16  schools and academies as  may  be  appropriate  in  determining  minimum
    17  training requirements.
    18    §  6. Section 406 of the general business law, as added by chapter 509
    19  of the laws of 1992, subdivisions 1, 2 and 4 as amended by  chapter  341
    20  of  the laws of 1998, paragraph e of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter
    21  376 of the laws of 2015, paragraph f of subdivision 1 as added by  chap-
    22  ter  80  of the laws of 2015, paragraph c of subdivision 2 as amended by
    23  section 3 of part D of chapter 328 of the laws of 2014 and  paragraph  a
    24  of  subdivision  3  as  amended  by  chapter 324 of the laws of 1998, is
    25  amended to read as follows:
    26    §  406.  License  application;  procedure;   requirements;   temporary
    27  license.  1. a. Any person intending to practice nail specialty, waxing,
    28  natural  hair  [styling]  care and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology as
    29  defined in this article, or to own or operate an appearance  enhancement
    30  business,  shall  first  make application to the secretary for a license
    31  therefor.
    32    b. Such application shall be in a form and manner  prescribed  by  the
    33  secretary  and  shall  contain  such  information as, in the secretary's
    34  judgment, is reasonable and necessary to  determine  the  qualifications
    35  and fitness for licensing of the applicant.
    36    c.  The  application shall be subscribed by the applicant and affirmed
    37  under penalty of perjury.
    38    d. Each application shall be accompanied by  the  appropriate  fee  as
    39  prescribed by this article.
    40    e.  Each  application  shall be accompanied by a certificate of a duly
    41  licensed physician, or nurse practitioner to the  extent  authorized  by
    42  law  and  consistent with subdivision three of section six thousand nine
    43  hundred two of the education law on a form prescribed by the  secretary,
    44  showing  freedom  from  any  infectious  or  communicable  disease which
    45  certificate shall have been issued within thirty days prior to the  date
    46  of the filing of the application.
    47    f.  Notwithstanding  the  educational  requirements of this section, a
    48  trainee may obtain a license to practice nail specialty if such  trainee
    49  provides  satisfactory  evidence  to the secretary that such trainee has
    50  been actively engaged in a traineeship for a period of one year and  has
    51  completed  a  course of study set forth by the secretary. Such course of
    52  study may be delivered by electronic means.
    53    2. a. Any person seventeen years of age or  older  may  apply  to  the
    54  secretary for a license to practice nail specialty, waxing, natural hair
    55  [styling] care and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology.

        A. 7924--A                          6

     1    b.  Each  such  application  shall also be accompanied by satisfactory
     2  evidence of having taken and passed the appropriate examination or exam-
     3  inations offered by the secretary  pursuant  to  this  article  for  the
     4  license  sought and evidence of the successful completion of an approved
     5  course  of  study in nail specialty, waxing, natural hair [styling] care
     6  and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology in a school duly licensed  pursu-
     7  ant to the education law.
     8    c.  Any  applicant  for  a license to practice nail specialty, waxing,
     9  natural hair [styling] care and braiding, esthetics or  cosmetology  may
    10  submit  satisfactory  evidence  of  licensure  to practice an equivalent
    11  occupation issued by any other state, territory, protectorate or depend-
    12  ency of the United States or any other country in lieu of  the  evidence
    13  of schooling and examination required by this subdivision, provided that
    14  such license was granted in compliance with standards which were, in the
    15  judgment  of  the  secretary,  not  lower  than  those of this state and
    16  provided that such state, territory, protectorate, dependency, or  coun-
    17  try  extends  similar reciprocity to the licensees of this state, or the
    18  applicant practiced an equivalent occupation in such  state,  territory,
    19  protectorate,  dependency or country for a minimum of five years, or the
    20  applicant is a member of the household of a member of the  armed  forces
    21  of  the  United  States,  national guard or reserves and was a member of
    22  such household before such member relocated to the state.
    23    d. Notwithstanding the educational requirements of  this  section  and
    24  the testing requirements of this section, an applicant who otherwise has
    25  met  the  licensing  requirements of this article for a nail specialist,
    26  waxer, natural hair [stylist] care and braiding specialist,  esthetician
    27  or cosmetologist who shall provide satisfactory evidence [he or she has]
    28  they have been actively and continuously engaged in the practice of nail
    29  specialty,  waxing,  natural hair [styling] care and braiding, esthetics
    30  or cosmetology for at least one year prior to the effective date of this
    31  article, may be issued a license for  nail  specialty,  waxing,  natural
    32  hair  [styling]  care and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology pursuant to
    33  this article. Notwithstanding the educational and  testing  requirements
    34  of  this  section, a person licensed to practice barbering under article
    35  twenty-eight of  this  chapter  who  otherwise  has  met  the  licensing
    36  requirements of this article may apply for a temporary natural hair care
    37  and  braiding  license  in order to study and take the natural hair care
    38  and braiding written examination.   Upon passing, such  licensed  barber
    39  shall  be  issued  a license to practice natural [hairstyling] hair care
    40  and braiding.  Other than applicants licensed under article twenty-eight
    41  of this chapter, those persons who apply after  a  twelve  month  period
    42  from  the  effective  date  of  this article will be required to provide
    43  evidence of training and to take  the  examination  or  examinations  as
    44  required for other licenses pursuant to this article.
    45    e.  Upon  acceptance  by  the secretary of a proper application for an
    46  operator's license to  practice  nail  [speciality]  specialty,  waxing,
    47  natural  hair [styling] care and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology, the
    48  secretary may issue a temporary operator's license  which  shall  expire
    49  six months from issuance. Upon good cause shown, the secretary may renew
    50  a  temporary operator's license for one additional six-month period upon
    51  filing the appropriate application and fee.
    52    3. Appearance enhancement business license. a.  Any  person,  eighteen
    53  years  of age or older, or any firm, limited liability company, partner-
    54  ship or corporation having at least one member eighteen years of age  or
    55  older  may apply to the secretary for an appearance enhancement business
    56  license.

        A. 7924--A                          7

     1    b. Each  such  application  for  an  appearance  enhancement  business
     2  license  shall  be accompanied by evidence of a bond or liability insur-
     3  ance.
     4    4.  a.  Notwithstanding any provision contained in this article to the
     5  contrary, if any person, eligible for any license pursuant to this arti-
     6  cle, should be called to active military service at or during  the  time
     7  application  for  any  license  is  required to be filed and license fee
     8  paid, pursuant to the provisions of  this  article,  the  period  within
     9  which  said  application  may  be  filed and license fee may be paid, is
    10  extended on behalf of such person, until three months after  the  termi-
    11  nation of said military service.
    12    b.  In  the  case of persons who are called to active military service
    13  and will be discharged from active military service, the period  of  two
    14  years  specified  in paragraph d of subdivision two of this section need
    15  not be continuous. The length of time such person  was  engaged  in  the
    16  practice  of  nail  specialty,  waxing,  natural hair [styling] care and
    17  braiding, esthetics  or  cosmetology  before  entering  active  military
    18  service  may be added to any period of time during which such person was
    19  or is engaged in the practice of nail specialty,  waxing,  natural  hair
    20  [styling]  care  and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology after the termi-
    21  nation of active military service.
    22    § 7. Subdivision 1 of section 407 of  the  general  business  law,  as
    23  amended  by  chapter  255  of  the  laws  of 1999, is amended to read as
    24  follows:
    25    1. The examinations for the license to practice natural hair [styling]
    26  care and braiding, esthetics, nail specialty and  cosmetology  shall  be
    27  practical  and  written.  The  examinations  for the license to practice
    28  waxing shall be limited to a written  examination  only.  The  secretary
    29  shall determine reasonable standards of performance for each license and
    30  shall evaluate the prospective applicants and applicants on the basis of
    31  such  standards. The objectives of the examinations shall be to [insure]
    32  ensure that prospective applicants and applicants have sufficient  basic
    33  skills  to  safeguard  the health and safety of the public and to insure
    34  that prospective applicants and applicants have attained adequate levels
    35  of skill to competently engage  in  the  activities  authorized  by  the
    36  license.
    37    §  8.  Section  408 of the general business law is amended by adding a
    38  new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
    39    12. Any current natural hair styling licensee who processes a  renewal
    40  after  the  effective date of this subdivision shall receive the updated
    41  natural hair care and braiding license pursuant to this article.
    42    § 9. The general business law is amended by adding  two  new  sections
    43  408-c and 408-d to read as follows:
    44    § 408-c. Natural hair care and braiding apprentice.  1. A natural hair
    45  care  and  braiding  apprentice shall be a beginner and non-professional
    46  individual seventeen years of age or older  with  less  than  two  years
    47  experience that wants to enter the natural hair care and braiding indus-
    48  try and receive hands-on training. Such person shall be pursuing in good
    49  faith  a one-year hands-on paid work study apprenticeship program in the
    50  practice of natural hair care and braiding under  the  tutelage,  super-
    51  vision,  and  direction of a natural hair care and braiding licensee who
    52  is a senior natural  hair  care  and  braiding  specialist  pursuant  to
    53  section  four  hundred eight-d of this article who assists such licensee
    54  in such practice. A business appearance enhancement licensed salon shall
    55  register with the division of licensing services to participate in  such
    56  apprentice  program.    Such business appearance enhancement salon shall

        A. 7924--A                          8
 
     1  hire such apprentice in a full or part time capacity for  a  minimum  of
     2  twenty hours to a maximum of forty hours per week to participate in such
     3  apprentice program. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations
     4  regarding  salons  and  salon  supervisors, for tutelage, guidelines and
     5  requirements of natural hair care and braiding instructors and  textured
     6  hairstylist  instructors.  The advisory committee established under this
     7  article shall advise the secretary and division of licensing services on
     8  such rules and regulations pertaining to curriculum and testing require-
     9  ments.
    10    2. a. An apprentice shall register  with  the  division  of  licensing
    11  services  for  a  one-year  natural  hair  care  and braiding apprentice
    12  license.   Upon application, the  participating  appearance  enhancement
    13  business  salon  where  such  training shall occur shall be listed. Such
    14  license shall be renewable for an additional one year, if  necessary  to
    15  complete the required mandatory educational courses.
    16    b. Each apprentice license issued as provided in this section shall be
    17  posted  in a conspicuous place where such apprentice is actually engaged
    18  in the practice of natural hair care and braiding as an apprentice.
    19    3. A mandatory one hundred hour online, in-person or hybrid course  of
    20  study  shall be required in conjunction with this apprenticeship program
    21  from an accredited school approved by the New  York  state  division  of
    22  licensing services in the areas of public health and safety, science and
    23  sanitary  practices,  alopecia  and  scalp disorders, and ergonomics for
    24  overall health and safety. Additionally, a natural hair care  and  braid
    25  styling  course in the theory and proper procedures for braiding, twist-
    26  ing, locking and weaving techniques  with  demonstrations  and  hands-on
    27  training shall be required.
    28    4. Upon completion of the requirements of this section, the apprentice
    29  shall  be  eligible  to apply to take a New York state natural hair care
    30  and braiding practical examination. Upon passing  such  New  York  state
    31  practical examination, such apprentice shall receive a natural hair care
    32  and braiding license.
    33    §  408-d.  Senior  natural  care  and braiding specialist. 1. A senior
    34  natural hair care and braiding specialist shall be licensed  in  natural
    35  hair  care  and  demonstrate advanced expertise in the care, styling and
    36  maintenance of all natural hair types and textures.
    37    2. Such senior status may be applied for  following  advanced  certif-
    38  ication  as  determined by the department but shall at a minimum include
    39  additional courses of study in which such curriculum is a minimum of one
    40  hundred hours and a specialized examination.
    41    3. Such specialist shall be employed by a licensed appearance enhance-
    42  ment business in the state of New York.
    43    § 10. Subdivision 1 of section 409 of the  general  business  law,  as
    44  amended  by  section  2  of part Y of chapter 60 of the laws of 2011, is
    45  amended to read as follows:
    46    1. The non-refundable fee for an application for a license  to  engage
    47  in  the  practice of nail specialty, waxing, natural hair [styling] care
    48  and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology, shall be forty dollars initially
    49  and for each renewal thereof the fee shall be forty dollars; the fee for
    50  a temporary license and each renewal shall be ten dollars.
    51    § 11. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 410 of the general busi-
    52  ness law, as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2015,  is  amended  to
    53  read as follows:
    54    a.  The  secretary  may  issue an order directing the cessation of any
    55  activity related to nail specialty, waxing, natural hair [styling]  care
    56  and  braiding,  esthetics or cosmetology for which a license is required

        A. 7924--A                          9

     1  by this article upon a determination that a person, partnership, limited
     2  liability company or business corporation, engaging in the  business  or
     3  occupation  of,  or holding [himself, herself] themself or itself out as
     4  or  acted,  temporarily or otherwise, as a nail specialist, natural hair
     5  [stylist] care and braiding  specialist,  esthetician  or  cosmetologist
     6  within this state without a valid license being in effect. The secretary
     7  shall,  before  making such determination and order, afford such person,
     8  partnership, limited liability company or business corporation an oppor-
     9  tunity to be heard in person or by counsel in reference  thereto  in  an
    10  adjudicatory  proceeding held pursuant to section four hundred eleven of
    11  this article as applicable.
    12    § 12. Subdivision 1 of section 412 of the  general  business  law,  as
    13  amended  by  chapter  80  of  the  laws  of  2015, is amended to read as
    14  follows:
    15    1. The practice of nail specialty, waxing, natural hair [styling] care
    16  and braiding, esthetics or cosmetology without a license or while  under
    17  suspension  or  revocation,  or  in  violation of an order directing the
    18  cessation of unlicensed activity issued by  the  secretary  pursuant  to
    19  section  four  hundred  ten or four hundred eleven of this article, is a
    20  violation and is subject to a  civil  penalty  of  up  to  five  hundred
    21  dollars  for the first violation; one thousand dollars for a second such
    22  violation; and two thousand five hundred dollars for a  third  violation
    23  and any subsequent violation.
    24    §  13.  This  act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
    25  have become a law.
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