A3443

An Act concerning the practice of cosmetology and hairstyling and amending and supplementing P.L.1984, c.205.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 28 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-28) is amended to read as follows:

28. a. Applicants possessing a license to render services in another state or a foreign country, which services are included within the definition of cosmetology and hairstyling as set forth in [this act] P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.), may be issued a license as a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician, barber, manicurist or skin care specialist, as appropriate, without examination, provided, however, that the state or country has established eligibility criteria substantially similar to those established in this State, and the applicant has paid a fee as required by the board and submitted certification from the licensing jurisdiction. A person possessing a license to practice cosmetology and hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, manicuring or skin care specialty services issued by a licensing authority from another state or a foreign country which has established eligibility criteria with respect to cosmetology and hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, manicuring or skin care specialty training which are, in the opinion of the board, less stringent than those required in this State may, nevertheless, be eligible for licensure without examination, if he can present satisfactory evidence of prior practical experience of three years working in a licensed shop in the practice in which the applicant is seeking licensure.

b. Nothing in subsection a. of this section shall prohibit applicants possessing a license to render barbering services in another state or foreign country, which services are included within the definition of barbering as set forth in section 3 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-3), from practicing as a barber upon first arrival in this State and while awaiting the issuance of a license as a barber pursuant to subsection a. of this section. Applicants that render barbering services without a license, pursuant to this subsection, shall not be in violation of section 14 of P.L.1995, c.82 (C.45:5B-12.1) or any other provision of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.), or any supplement thereto, that prohibits the practice of barbering without a license, provided that an applicant has made a good faith effort to obtain a license in this State pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.162, s.28)

2. (New section) The New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling shall establish and maintain a program to enhance public awareness of the provisions of section 28 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-28). The public awareness program shall include, but not be limited to, information concerning the procedures, application, and fees required for persons licensed to practice cosmetology and hairstyling in other another state or foreign country to obtain a license under P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.). The board shall make any resources developed for purposes of the public awareness program available in English and Spanish, and any other language that the board determines is the first language of a significant number of persons entering the State to practice as a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician, barber, manicurist or skin care specialist.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill amends section 28 of the “Cosmetology and Hairstyling Act of 1984,” P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-28), to provide that no provision of that statute will prohibit persons possessing a license to render barbering services in another state or foreign country, which services are included within the definition of barbering as set forth in section 3 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-3), from practicing as a barber upon first arrival in this State and while awaiting the issuance of a license as a barber in this State.

Persons possessing a barbering license in another state or foreign country that render barbering services in this State while awaiting issuance of a license to practice in this State, pursuant to the provisions of the bill, will not be in violation of section 14 of P.L.1995, c.82 (C.45:5B-12.1) or any other provision of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.), or any supplement thereto, that prohibit the practice of barbering without a license, provided that a person possessing a barbering license in another state or foreign country has made a good faith effort to obtain a license in this State pursuant to the provisions of section 28 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-28).

The bill also requires the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to establish and maintain a program to enhance public awareness of the provisions of section 28 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-28). The public awareness program must include, but not be limited to, information concerning the procedures, application, and fees necessary for persons licensed to practice cosmetology and hairstyling in other another state or foreign country to obtain a license under P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.). The board must make any resources developed for purposes of the public awareness program available in English and Spanish, and any other language that the board determines is the first language of a significant number of persons entering the State to practice as a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician, barber, manicurist or skin care specialist.