Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Business & Financial Services Committee

HB 2512

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning cosmetology, hair design, barbering, esthetics, and manicuring.

Sponsors: Representative Kirby.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Establishes a hair design license separate from cosmetology.

  • Modifies other elements of the cosmetology licensure statute.

Hearing Date: 1/24/14

Staff: David Rubenstein (786-7153).

Background:

The Department of Licensing (Department) regulates cosmetology, barbering, manicuring, and esthetics. A person must be licensed to practice these professions. A barber license allows the cutting, trimming, arranging, dressing, curling, shampooing, shaving, and mustache and beard design of the face, neck, and scalp. A cosmetology license allows all these practices, and in addition, allows the following practices involving chemicals: permanent waving, chemical relaxing, straightening, bleaching, lightening, and coloring. The license also allows waxing and tweezing. Finally, the cosmetologist license also allows some of the practices permitted for manicurists and estheticians. To receive a license, a person must meet training requirements and pass an exam.

The minimum training requirements are as follows:

Practitioner

Hours in School; or

Hours in Apprenticeship

Cosmetologist

1,600

2,000

Barber

1,000

1,200

Manicurist

600

800

Esthetician

750

800

Master Esthetician

1,200 hours or esthetician licensure plus 450 hours

1,400

Instructor-trainee

500

n/a

A reciprocity provision allows a person with the equivalent license in another state to take the examination. The Department prepares and administers the exams, establishes minimum safety and sanitation standards, adopts rules, and otherwise administers the provisions. The Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics, and Manicuring Advisory Board (Board) advises the Department. Washington does not have a license that allows barbering and the use of chemicals. To use chemicals, a practitioner must obtain a cosmetology license.

Summary of Bill:

Hair design licensure is separated from the general cosmetology license, and requires 1,600 hours of training or 2,000 hours of apprenticeship.

Training hours required for cosmetologists is increased from 1,600 to 2,650, and apprentice hours from 2,000 to 3,000 hours.

Booth renters are defined and regulated.

The definitions of manicuring and cosmetology are modified.

Online or distance training of license applicants is permitted.

The Department's duty to ensure that notices are mailed to licensees is stricken.

Cancelation of license occurs after one year, rather than 10.

Summary of Proposed Substitute

Reduces training hours required of cosmetologists from 2,650 to 1,600 (the current requirement), and of hair designers from 1,600 to 1,200. Apprenticeship hours are reduced for cosmetologists from 3,000 to 2,000 (the current requirement), and for hair designers from 2,000 to 1,750.

Restores existing education requirement for cosmetologists.

Strikes references to booth renters.

Restores definitions of "practice of cosmetology" and "practice of manicuring."

Restores the Department's duty to ensure that notices are mailed to licensees.

Restores 10-year period before a license is canceled.

Makes technical and stylistic edits.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: In process, requested 1/17/14.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.