SB 999: Barbering and Cosmetology – Shampooing
1. Purpose. This bill is sponsored by the R Street Institute. According to the Author, “The average amount spent on licensing fees in California is $486, with an average education requirement of 827 days, and two examinations. Included in the list of occupations licensed are questionable jobs that reasonably should not require a license. However, thanks to the influence of industry lobbyists and powerful boards that have monopolized their respective industries via licensing requirements, attempts to reform ridiculous license requirements continue to fail.” The Author states that “An ideal example of California’s unnecessary occupational licensing is the requirement for shampooing. Currently classified under the barbering license, in order to professionally shampoo, individuals are required to have over 1500 hours of training, pass a written and practical examination, and pay up to $125 in fees. This occupation is unlicensed with no reportedly detrimental effects in other states, yet California continues to restrict entry into this field with the claim that it is in the interest of public health and safety. In reality, this license requirement disproportionately effects low to middle-income entrepreneurs and labor market newcomers. They are forced to navigate an expensive and unnecessary occupational licensing process in order to be employed or to work as a shampooer.”
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6. Arguments in Support. The R Street Institute, sponsor of this bill, believes that SB 999 will reduce some of California’s onerous occupational licensing requirements for people who would like to be involved in basic hair-care work such as shampooing, arranging, dressing, curling, and waving. R Street Institute writes “we understand the need for licensing in some fields, but California’s basic hair-care licensing requirements are out of proportion to the task at hand. In this case, the regulations harm job prospects for low-income Californians and mainly serve to limit competition.” According to R Street Institute, the bill “could help salon owners and workers. There are no safety issues here. Indeed washing and preparing hair is something all of us do virtually every day. The bill can also encourage the expansion of a new, entrepreneurial web-based industry of at-home hair care, something that is particularly beneficial to elderly and infirm people.” The Sponsor calls this bill a simple solution that will remove an obstacle for people who want to climb the financial ladder.
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SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION:
Support:
R Street Institute (Sponsor)
TechNet
Opposition:
None on file as of April 10, 2018.
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