The Professional Beauty Assocation (PBA) has issued an alert about two states under deregulation threat. Legislation in Connecticut and Missouri has been introduced that, if passed, would deregulate the beauty industry and take away occupational licenses for cosmetologists and barbers in each state.

CONNECTICUT  SB324
Bill Sponsor: Senator Joe Markley (R)

SB324 will require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to study all occupational licenses, including cosmetology, and recommend elimination of those licenses that are not found to be necessary to protect the public health or safety. The legislation has been assigned to the Joint Committee on General Law.  

A hearing, open to the general public, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 21, 2013.  The hearing will be held at 1:00 PM in Room 2A of the Legislative Office Building.  

Anyone who would like to provide comments at the public hearing must contact the committee chair before the hearing date. The committee chairs are State Senator Paul Doyle, tel:1-800-842-1420 or Doyle@senatedems.ct.gov and Representative David Baram at tel:1-800-842-1902 or  David.Baram@cga.ct.gov

To send a letter to the to the members of the General Law Committee in opposition of SB324 please click here.

Share information with your clients and your state legislators, visit www.probeauty.org/yoursafetyfirst to review questions and answers that explain why the cosmetology industry should remain licensed and regulated.

Link to legislation: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/s/pdf/2013SB-00324-R00-SB.pdf

Link to committee: http://www.cga.ct.gov/GL/

Link to the hearing notice: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/GLdata/pha/2013PHA00221-R001300GL-PHA.htm 

MISSOURI HB590
Bill sponsor: Representative Andrew Koenig 

HB590 will allow any person to engage in the practice of a specified profession, such as barbering and cosmetology, without being licensed.  The person may not hold himself or herself out as being licensed.

Express your opposition to HB590, email or call Representative Andrew Koenig (Andrew.Koenig@house.mo.gov, 573-751-5568) and explain the importance of licensing. 

Link to legislation: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills131/biltxt/intro/HB0590I.htm

Licensed professionals in the beauty industry care about the health and safety of consumers. Licensing ensures proper training in in the area of sanitation and infection control, and establishes accountability. Licensed professionals are trained to utilize chemicals and tools safely to avoid injuries and the spread of infectious diseases.

Stop deregulation efforts and elevate your profession, visit www.probeauty.org/yoursafetyfirst and talk about what it means to be a licensed professional.

Occupational licensing of the beauty industry supports consumer safety, best practices in the area of sanitation and infection control, and establishes accountability.  

Main reasons to support regulation of the cosmetology industry include:
(1) State legislatures recognized long ago that the cosmetology industry should be regulated 
(2) Reasons why include consumer safety, health, sanitation, and infection control, and professional accountability
(3) State Boards are in place to regulate the industry, and to serve the consumer if there is a complaint within the industry