BUSY 2002 LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
CALIFORNIA COSMETOLOGY AND BARBERING
RETURNS TO "BOARD" REGULATION AND
GOVERNMENT NOW COMPELLED TO TRACK BOOTH RENTAL

Sacramento, CA – On October 30th, 2002, California Governor Gray Davis signed SB 1482 into law. This new law places California’s barbering, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics and manicuring industries under the regulatory authority of a new nine member "board", replacing the current State governed Bureau of Cosmetology & Barbering under the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Many in California’s beauty industry were concerned by a lack of progress and accomplishment during the current Bureau’s tenure since the former board of cosmetology was "sunsetted" under Governor Wilson. Much effort has gone into implementing a structure that can more effectively serve the needs of the California beauty industry.

PBFC’s Board Chairman, Ted D. Nelson says, "A primary mission of the Professional beauty Federation of California (PBFC) is to help raise the level of professionalism of California’s beauty industry. Toward that goal, we joined forces with Mark Moreno of the Western States Kit Company, who has championed the effort to return to a 'state board’ system of industry regulation for the past several years and with the passage of Senate bill SB 1482, carried for the industry by Senator Richard Polanco (L.A. – Democrat), the goal was achieved. We are very pleased our legislators and Governor heard our industry’s $6 Billion dollar voice united in an important common objective. We warmly welcome Mark Moreno as a new PBFC board member."

As of January 1, 2003, the new law creates a nine member board, comprised of five public (non-industry) members and four industry professions representatives. Having the five non-industry board members helps ensure a diverse view on industry issues and precludes individual agendas from having undue influence on results. Board member terms of service are limited to four years and only two consecutive terms.

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

Another PBFC backed bill chaptered this year again takes affect January 1, 2003, and requires all licensees to identify themselves in their renewal license applications as being in one of three categories: an employer, an employee, or a independent contractor/booth renter. AB 2449 (Correa – Santa Ana, Democrat) also asks the Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the state Franchise Tax Board, to study statistics regarding public complaints, citations and tax irregularities within the booth rental sector. These agencies are to report their findings and recommendations of reform regarding the booth rental segment to the Legislature by 2008. It is the first time in California's history government officials are compelled to begin tracking the business and tax activities of industry booth renters

A new statute (the bill for which was sponsored by the Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology) allows the current BBC Chief to temporarily shut-down salons "found to have health and safety violations of such a severe nature as to pose an immediate threat to the public." SB 1957 (Polanco – L.A., Democrat) also lengthens (by several months) the time an apprentice may be able to re-take the licensure examinations after failing to pass it.

Finally, also on the subject of apprentices, AB 2743 (Lowenthal – Long Beach, Democrat) will now allow apprentices to take advantage of a Pre-Application process to lessen the delay for examination (in a similar way in which beauty school students are allowed to pre-apply).

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