Relating to the practice of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences and providing transition provisions

This bill relates to the practices of barbering and cosmetology. The bill merges the boards of cosmetology arts and sciences and barbering into the board of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences, repeals Code chapter 158 (barbering), and makes conforming changes. The bill gives the board of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences all of the powers and responsibilities of the prior boards. The bill provides that current members of the boards of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences shall become members of the merged board until their terms expire or they are otherwise replaced. The bill also provides that the current rules of both boards shall remain in effect until the board of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences amends, rescinds, or supplements the rules, or the rules expire by their own terms. The bill grants the board of barbering, the board of cosmetology arts and sciences, and the board of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences emergency rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill provides additional transition provisions. The bill moves the regulation of barbers to the control of the board of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences and includes educational requirements for barbers identical to those currently found in Code chapter 158 (barbering). The bill repeals the definition of “salon” and replaces it with a definition for “establishment”, which includes a fixed or readily movable location where cosmetology arts and sciences or barbering is practiced. The bill also renames schools of cosmetology arts and sciences to “schools of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences” and requires such schools to offer a course in barbering by August 1, 2023.