SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5318

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, February 8, 2001

Title:  An act relating to cosmetology.

Brief Description:  Modifying the definition of a "vocational student" for the purpose of the study of cosmetology.

Sponsors:  Senators West, Haugen, Prentice, Winsley and Gardner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  2/5/01, 2/8/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5318 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Patterson, Rasmussen, Regala, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786‑7430)

Background:  Skill centers offer half-day vocational programs for high school students to pursue in conjunction with their normal schoolwork.  There are cosmetology programs at several skill centers.

Currently, students may begin these programs upon completion of eleventh grade.  There is concern that students at skill centers do not have enough time to complete the requisite 1,600 hours of cosmetology training before high school graduation.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Students in a cosmetology program at a high school or skills center are allowed to begin the program upon completion of ninth grade.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Students taking a cosmetology course through a high school or skills center are separated out in the definition of vocational student.  These students are allowed to begin cosmetology programs upon completion of ninth grade instead of the tenth grade.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  If students could start skills center cosmetology programs earlier, even upon completion of the ninth grade, this would allow more time for completion of cosmetology programs.  Some high school cosmetology programs contract with community colleges, and these programs should also be included in the bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Regina Lillie, Supercuts; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Mary Jelvik, Department of Licensing.