Lawmaker takes another stab at deregulating hair studios
A Scottsdale lawmaker again is trying to deregulate hair-styling studios to allow unlicensed workers perform “blow outs” and other services that don’t involve cutting or coloring hair.
Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, who introduced similar legislation last year at the behest of Gov. Doug Ducey, moved her new bill, Senate Bill 1401, through the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday.
“This is about getting people back to work,” Ugenti-Rita said Thursday before defending her bill against people who say it could created a public-health threat by letting unlicensed people brush, dry, and curl hair.
“We don’t have a chef ’s license,” Ugenti-Rita said. “Think what could go wrong if you prepare food incorrectly.”
Her bill passed the committee on a 5-3 party-line vote, with Democrats opposed. It simply allows people without cosmetology licenses to style, curl, blow dry, and wash hair without a license if they post a sign telling the public their services are not regulated by the Cosmetology Board.
Ducey in 2018 denounced the state Cosmetology Board as “bullies” in his State of the State presentation, and Ugenti-Rita followed up by introducing a house bill that would have lifted the requirement to have a cosmetology license to style hair.
“A word of advice to those bureaucrats, and, yes, even some elected officials, who are resisting this effort: The train is leaving the station. Get on board, or you’re going to get left behind,” Ducey said in his speech.
In his 2019 speech, Ducey did not again single out the Cosmetology Board, but did say he wants to reduce the burden of occupational licenses.
The bill did not become law last year, and faced substantial opposition from stylists and people who operate cosmetology schools.
Those people lined up again to oppose the new bill Thursday.
The bill last year never got voted out of the House.
“There is not a compelling public interest in this deregulation,” said Jeff Koluch, who owns Studio Academy of Beauty with his wife, Cathy.