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PRINTER'S NO. 253
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
291
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY A. WILLIAMS, LANGERHOLC, PHILLIPS-HILL,
HUTCHINSON, SCHWANK AND HAYWOOD, FEBRUARY 14, 2019
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
FEBRUARY 14, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 3, 1933 (P.L.242, No.86), entitled "An
act to promote the public health and safety by providing for
examination, licensing and granting of permits for those who
desire to engage in the profession of cosmetology; defining
cosmetology, and regulating cosmetology salons, schools,
students, apprentices, teachers, managers, manicurists and
cosmetologists; conferring powers and duties upon the
Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs of the
Department of State; providing for appeals to certain courts
by applicants and licensees; and providing penalties,"
further providing for definitions, for practice without
license prohibited, for eligibility requirements for
examination, for limited licenses, for requirements of a
school of cosmetology, for practice in licensed salons only,
for booth rental prohibited, for sanitary rules and for fees;
providing for municipal registration, business license and
taxes; further providing for duration and renewal of licenses
and for penalties; and providing for waiver of certain fees,
fines and penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "cosmetology," "limited
license," "natural hair braider" and "natural hair braiding" in
section 1 of the act of May 3, 1933 (P.L.242, No.86), referred
to as the Cosmetology Law, are amended to read:
Section 1. Definitions.--The following words and phrases
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when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in
this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Cosmetology" includes any or all work done for compensation
by any person, which work is generally and usually performed by
cosmetologists, which work is for the embellishment, cleanliness
and beautification of the human hair, such as arranging,
braiding, dressing, curling, waving, permanent waving,
cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring, pressing, or
similar work thereon and thereabout, and the removal of
superfluous hair, and the massaging, cleansing, stimulating,
manipulating, exercising, or similar work upon the scalp, face,
arms or hands, or the upper part of the body, by the use of
mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances or cosmetics,
preparations, tonics, antiseptics, creams or lotions, or by any
other means, and of manicuring the nails, which enumerated
practices shall be inclusive of the term cosmetology but not in
limitation thereof. The term also includes the acts comprising
the practice of nail technology[, natural hair braiding] and
esthetics. The term does not include the practice of natural
hair braiding only.
* * *
"Limited license" means a license issued by the State Board
of Cosmetology to an individual which permits that individual to
engage in the practice of esthetics[, natural hair braiding] or
nail technology.
* * *
["Natural hair braider" means an individual licensed by the
State Board of Cosmetology to engage in the practice of natural
hair braiding.]
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"Natural hair braiding" means the practice of utilizing
techniques that result in tension on hair roots of individuals,
such as twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, beading,
accessorizing, locking or braiding of the hair. The term
includes the use of topical agents available for purchase by the
general public such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils
pomades and shampoos in conjunction with utilizing such
techniques. The term does not include the application of dyes,
reactive chemicals or other preparations to alter the color or
to straighten, curl or alter the structure of hair.
* * *
Section 2. Section 2, 4(c) and (d), 5(b)(3) and (c), 6(b.1)
(2) and (4) and (d), 8(a)(2), 8.1, 14 and 16(a) of the act are
amended to read:
Section 2. Practice without License Prohibited.--(a) It
shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following
without having first obtained from the department a license or
limited license as provided in this act:
(1) To practice or teach cosmetology for compensation, or to
use or maintain any place for the practice of cosmetology for
compensation, or to use or maintain any place for the teaching
of cosmetology.
(2) To practice or teach esthetics[, natural hair braiding]
or nail technology for compensation or to use or maintain any
place for the practice of esthetics[, natural hair braiding] or
nail technology for compensation.
(b) A license shall not be required under this act to engage
in the practice of natural hair braiding.
Section 4. Eligibility Requirements for Examination.--* * *
(c) No person shall be permitted to receive a license to
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teach cosmetology [or natural hair braiding], nail technology or
esthetics unless such person shall have a license to practice
cosmetology or a limited license, be at least eighteen years of
age, shall have completed a twelfth grade education or the
equivalent thereof and have had five hundred hours of
specialized training as set forth in section 6 of this act which
hours shall be in addition to the hours necessary to qualify for
a license to practice cosmetology or a limited license.
(d) An applicant for a license to teach cosmetology,
[natural hair braiding,] nail technology or esthetics shall be
permitted to take a written examination upon completion of at
least four hundred hours of the specialized training required.
The examination shall include both theoretical and procedural
skill questions as prescribed by the board. Any applicant may
apply and is eligible for licensure upon (1) passing the written
examination, (2) completion of the required five hundred hours
of instruction, and (3) certification by a duly licensed school
of satisfactory completion of all program requirements.
Section 5. Limited Licenses.--* * *
(b) The board shall issue the following limited licenses to
qualified applicants:
* * *
[(3) (i) Natural hair braiding license, which shall
authorize the holder to engage in the practice of natural hair
braiding only. An applicant for a natural hair braiding license
shall have completed three hundred hours of board-approved
subjects relating to sanitation, scalp care, anatomy and natural
hair braiding in a cosmetology school and passed an examination
limited to that practice. Licensed natural hair braiders may
operate a salon limited to that license. An applicant may be
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permitted to take a written examination upon completion of at
least two hundred fifty hours of instruction in natural hair
braiding in a licensed school of cosmetology. The examination
shall include both theoretical and procedural skill questions as
prescribed by the board. Any applicant may apply and is eligible
for licensure upon (A) passing the written examination, (B)
completion of the required three hundred hours of board-approved
subjects, and (C) certification by a duly licensed school of
satisfactory completion of all program requirements.
(ii) The requirements of paragraph (3)(i) shall not apply
and a license to practice natural hair braiding shall be issued
to an applicant who:
(A) has submitted an application, along with the required
fee, within one year of the board's promulgation of final
regulations required under this section; and
(B) can demonstrate proof of practice of natural hair
braiding for three consecutive years immediately prior to the
date of application for licensure. Proof of practice shall
require tax records of employment and an affidavit from the
applicant and the applicant's immediate supervisor where
applicable. The board shall accept the information provided
without penalty to the applicant for failure to comply with
licensing provisions prior to the effective date of this
subsection.
(c) Within two years of the initial issuance of a license
under subsection (b)(3)(ii), the licensee shall provide the
board with proof that the licensee completed one hundred fifty
hours of education from a school of cosmetology as a condition
of renewal of the license. The courses shall include, at a
minimum, scalp care, hygiene and occupational safety.]
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Section 6. Requirements of a School of Cosmetology.--* * *
(b.1) No school of cosmetology shall be granted a license or
renewal of a license unless it shall require:
* * *
(2) Practical demonstrations and theoretical studies, and
study in sanitation, sterilization and the use of antiseptics,
cosmetics and electrical appliances consistent with the
practical and theoretical requirements as applicable to
cosmetology, nail technology[, natural hair braiding] or
esthetics or any act or practice comprising cosmetology, nail
technology[, natural hair braiding] or esthetics.
* * *
(4) A separate curriculum of five hundred hours for
individuals seeking to become teachers of cosmetology[,] or nail
technology [or natural hair braiding]. The curriculum shall
include methods of teaching and principles of education. This
paragraph shall not apply to teachers in public school programs
of cosmetology who meet the standards established by the
Department of Education for vocational education teachers in the
public schools, and those teachers shall be deemed to have
satisfied the educational requirements of this paragraph.
* * *
(d) A school of cosmetology which offers a curriculum for
the practice of [natural hair braiding,] nail technology or
esthetics shall require the following with respect to hours of
instruction:
[(1) for natural hair braiding, students shall be required
to complete a course of study of three hundred hours;]
(2) for nail technology, students shall be required to
complete a course of study of two hundred hours; and
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(3) for esthetics, students shall be required to complete a
course of study of three hundred hours.
Section 8. Practice in Licensed Salons Only.--(a) Except as
set forth in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any
person:
* * *
(2) to practice esthetics[,] or nail technology [or natural
hair braiding] for pay in any place other than a licensed
cosmetology salon or a salon limited to esthetics[,] or nail
technology [or natural hair braiding].
* * *
Section 8.1. Booth Rental Prohibited.--The rental of booth
space by an owner of a cosmetology salon, or the owner of a
salon limited to esthetics[,] or nail technology [or natural
hair braiding], to any holder of a license issued under this act
is unlawful.
Section 14. Sanitary Rules.--(a) The board shall prescribe
such sanitary rules as it may deem necessary, with particular
reference to the precautions necessary to be employed to prevent
the creating and spreading of infectious and contagious
diseases; and it shall be unlawful for the owner of any salon or
school of cosmetology to permit any person to sleep in or use
for residential purposes any room used wholly or in part as a
salon or school of cosmetology.
(b) The board, in consultation with the Department of
Health, shall develop and promulgate via a publicly accessible
Internet website, a training video and written materials
providing information on standard sanitary practices. The
training shall consist of information about infection control
techniques and diseases of the scalp that are appropriate for
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hair braiding in or outside of a salon setting and other
information the department determines relevant. This training
material shall be available in English, Spanish, French and
other languages as determined necessary by the board.
Section 16. Fees.--(a) The board shall, by regulation, fix
the following fees: (1) for the issuance of a license, with or
without examination, for cosmetology salon owners, teachers,
cosmetologists, nail technicians, nail technology salons,
estheticians, esthetician salons, [natural hair braiders,
natural hair braiding salons,] students and cosmetology schools;
(1.1) for registration fee for apprentices; and
(2) for biennial renewal of cosmetology salon owners, school
instructors, cosmetologists, nail technicians, estheticians,
[natural hair braiders,] cosmetology schools, nail technology
salons[,] and esthetician salons [and natural hair braiding
salons].
* * *
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 16.1. Municipal Registration, Business License and
Taxes.--Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to exempt the
practice of natural hair braiding or operating a natural hair
braiding salon from the requirements, as allowed for under 11
Pa.C.S. ยง 12601 (relating to licensing and regulatory powers),
of (1) a city ordinance that requires a general business
registration including a commercial activity license or similar
general business registration; and (2) any other law relating to
the payment of taxes on business income and receipts.
Section 4. Sections 19(b) and 20(c.2) and (e) of the act are
amended to read:
Section 19. Duration and Renewal of Licenses.--* * *
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(b) An individual holding a license to practice cosmetology
or an individual holding a limited license who is not engaged in
practice shall request the board, in writing, to place his
license in escrow and thus protect his right to obtain a license
at any such time within a five-year period if he desires to
again become engaged in the practice of cosmetology or the
practice of nail technology[, natural hair braiding] or
esthetics.
* * *
Section 20. Penalties.--* * *
(c.2) In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal
penalty provided for in this act, the board, by a vote of the
majority of the maximum number of the authorized membership of
the board as provided by this act or by a vote of the majority
of the qualified and confirmed membership or a minimum of five
members, whichever is greater, may levy a civil penalty of up to
one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) on any current licensee who
violates any provisions of this act or on any person who
practices cosmetology, [natural hair braiding,] nail technology
or esthetics without being properly licensed to do so under this
act. The board shall levy this penalty only after affording the
accused party the opportunity for a hearing, as provided in
Title 2 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (relating to
administrative law and procedure).
* * *
(e) The owner of any salon employing an unlicensed
cosmetologist or an unlicensed [natural hair braider,] nail
technician or esthetician shall, upon conviction, be sentenced
to pay a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00), or
to undergo imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both,
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at the discretion of the court.
Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 20.1. Waiver of Certain Fees, Fines and Penalties.--
(a) All fees, fines or penalties imposed prior to the effective
date of this section with respect to the regulation of natural
hair braiding, by the Commonwealth, a county or a municipality,
or by any department, division, bureau, board, council, agency
or authority of the Commonwealth, a county or municipality, on a
person who engages in the practice of hair braiding for the
general public or the owner of an establishment in which a
person or persons engage in the practice of natural hair
braiding, shall be waived as of the effective date of this
section.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed as providing
a person who engages in the practice of hair braiding for the
general public or an owner of an establishment in which a person
or persons engage in the practice of hair braiding for the
general public with the right to a refund of the amount of any
fees, fines or penalties paid, prior to the effective date of
this section by the person or owner to the Commonwealth, county
or municipality with respect to the regulation of natural hair
braiding by the Commonwealth or any county or municipality.
Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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