Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- SB330 proposes reducing cosmetology training hours from 1,600 to 1,250 and barbers hours from 1,000 to 130.
- Barbers express concerns about de-licensing and reduced service quality under the bill.
- Sen. Sandall plans to address concerns and grandfather existing barbers into new requirements.
SALT LAKE CITY — Barbers, cosmetologists and business owners filled a committee room on Wednesday as the Utah Business and Labor Senate Committee debated a bill proposing significant changes to cosmetology licensing and education.
SB330, proposed by Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, aims to make several changes to current cosmetology licensing laws. The bill came up when the Legislature asked the state Office of Professional Licensure Review to study safety requirements for cosmetology and master aesthetics licensure. Officials determined the number of hours needed to be trained on safety was much lower than the hours required to attain a cosmetology license, with the excess hours being used to improve the skill of the cosmetologist. Fundamentally, the bill argues that licensure should guarantee consumer safety and security, but not necessarily quality.
The bill proposes cutting training hours for a cosmetology license from 1,600 to 1,250 hours. It would also create opportunities for individuals wanting to specialize in a department of cosmetology by allowing them to earn "micro licenses" for specific services like nails, eyelash extensions and more, with a lower number of training hours.
During the public hearing portion of the meeting, multiple barbers expressed concern that the bill would de-license current barbers and allow much less experienced individuals into the trade, bringing down the quality of services they provide.
Utah barbers are currently required to complete a program that provides at least 1,000 hours of instruction, complete an apprenticeship and pass a written and/or practical exam to qualify for a barbers license. Under this new bill, however, barbers would be able to receive a barbering permit for completing a program that provides a minimum of 130 instructional hours. To qualify for a master barber license, barbers in Utah would still be required to complete the 1,000 hours but also complete training in chemical hair services, which are not typically offered in traditional barbershops.
Richard Hite, the owner of the Barber School in Midvale, spoke at the meeting and expressed concern that the change in legislation would put an undue burden on experienced barbers to train new professionals in the industry.
"You have to understand who barbers are," said Hite. "They don't go into business because they want to work for somebody, they're not looking for a job. They all want to be their own bosses. So, when you work for somebody, you're only going to be there maybe six months to a year and then you move on. It's a revolving door of having to hire all the time."
Hite says many in the barbering community are also concerned the new regulations will require currently licensed barbers to receive the additional chemical hair service training not required before the change, meaning their licenses may be demoted to barbering permits. The issue was addressed in the committee hearing and Sandall responded with his intention to "grandfather" existing barbers into the new licensing requirements.
Sandall also acknowledged that SB330 requires some changes before he feels it is ready to be signed into law. He said the bill was being edited when there was a change in drafting attorneys that caused it to be introduced late in the legislative session.
"I would have much rather waited another week and ironed this all out … but I just didn't think we had time," he said. "I got the job in front of me to make sure that the changes that you're gonna hear … get ironed out by the time we get to a (substitute bill) if this committee chooses to move this forward."
SB330 passed the committee with a 5-1 vote, the only opposing vote coming from committee chair Sen. Ethan Vickers, R-Cedar City. He explained his vote against the bill was only because "it is not perfect yet," acknowledging the almost 25 changes Sandall noted were necessary.
Hite plans to ask that the revised bill allow barbers to continue to be licensed without chemical service training and require more than 130 training hours, while still offering the master barber license with the 1,000-hour and chemical training requirements.
"Barbers become barbers because something in their life was broken or missing," Hite said, "Now you're gonna tell me that everybody can be that and it doesn't have to be earned. ... I had barbers come up to me (that) night and they said, 'Please, please, please, don't let them make us feel like we're worthless, that our license doesn't mean anything.'"
