Deregulation Attempts Threaten Beauty Industry

Pixabay-Facial Massage[Pixabay]Currently, three states are proposing bills that will effectively undermine the safety of work performed by cosmetologists, estheticians and other members of the spa and salon industry. The Professional Beauty Association (PBA), the national trade organization representing the professional beauty industry, has issued an action alert to oppose deregulation in both Illinois and Michigan, as well as to oppose the severe reduction of cosmetology licensing hours in Rhode Island. PBA views this legislation as a detriment to consumer safety, and encourages action opposing these bills in each of these states.

Illinois Deregulation
Illinois House Bill 5558, introduced by Representative Allen Skillicorn, would allow any individual to practice cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology and barbering without a license.

Michigan Deregulation
Representative Steven Johnson introduced Michigan House Bill 5438, which, if passed, will completely deregulate barbering. Johnson has shared, “This license is an unnecessary regulation and does nothing to protect public safety.”

Rhode Island Cosmetology Hour Reduction
State representative Evan Shanley introduced House Bill 7484, which drastically reduces cosmetology educational requirements. Under this Bill, cosmetology education hours would be reduced from 1500 to 600, manicurist hours from 300 to 200, esthetics hours from 600 to 300, and barbering from 1500 to 600 hours.

Why are these proposed Bills a detriment to the professional beauty industry? Government Affairs director Myra Reddy explains: “Deregulation of occupational licensing for the professional beauty industry places both the consumer and those providing services at a real health risk. A reduction of hours prohibits license probability and damages the longevity of a legitimate career path. Occupational licensing of beauty professionals is not a barrier to work, instead the requirement of an education allows for lifelong stable career that cannot be outsourced and supports our U.S. economy.”

HOW TO TAKE ACTION
Illinois residents can click on the below link via the Professional Beauty Association to send an email to these officials:
https://p2a.co/sK4BJuA

Michigan residents can click on the below link via the Professional Beauty Association to send an email to these officials:
https://p2a.co/g5a9V31

Rhode Island residents can click on the below link via the Professional Beauty Association to send an email to these officials:
https://p2a.co/V8wFE2s

Your voice matters. Earlier this month, Tennessee introduced two bills that, if they had passed, would have allowed any person to practice cosmetology without a license as long as the provider entered into a written contract with the client to waive all liability. Thanks to the efforts of the PBA and licensed professionals, senator Janice Bowling killed the bill. “My intention in signing this bill was to only use it as vehicle later in the session to address any specific needs by opening up sections of Tennessee law dealing with occupational licensing,” she reported. “It was never my intention to run the bill in its current form. An amendment would have been necessary to significantly change its scope. There is obviously a lot of misinformation and confusion about this bill from well-intentioned people. For that reason, I have placed the bill in a General Subcommittee where it will not be acted upon, effectively killing the bill.”

Questions can be directed to Myra Reddy, PBA Government Affairs director at [email protected] or Erin Walter, PBA brand manager at [email protected]. Additionally, sign up to receive breaking news alerts from the PBA by texting PROBEAUTY to 52886.

–by Amy Dodds

More in Business