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Legislative Update - December 2007
2008 Legislative Session has started with the re-submission of last year‘s VETOED HB 117/SB 920. Representative Jennifer Carroll and Senator Wise of Jacksonville have submitted HB 415/SB 996 that is the carbon copy of last year's SB 920, less the language regarding internship. FAB lobbied against last year's SB 920 that was vetoed by Governor Crist. FAB PRO will be tracking the current bills and their progress throughout the 2008 Legislative Session. I met with Susan Lehr, VP of Government Affairs for Florida Community College in Jacksonville, who is a major supporter and lobbyist for this year's HB 415/SB 996. The purpose of the meeting, which took place in July 2007, was to propose a compromise between the two opposing groups. The meeting ended without resolve on these two issues: the 1800-hour requirement for cosmetologists and the creation of the Hair Technician license. Ms. Lehr was not willing to reduce the hour requirement to 1500 (which FAB would support) or to remove the Hair Technician language.
FAB’s legislative workshops last summer resulted in a consensus that FAB Professionals would support an increase in hours to 1500 for cosmetologists; we would support the increase of nail technician hours to 350; and we would support the increase of esthetician hours to 600. The latter two are contained within HB 415/SB 996 and include an examination for licensing.
FAB is attempting to meet with Representative Carroll to discuss the reduction from 1800 to 1500 hours for cosmetologists and the removal of the Hair Technician language. FAB will be submitting a bill, as well, which would allow students to be approved for the examination while still in school and will better define licensing by endorsement and reciprocity.
FAB currently has over 1,000 members and, of those, 28 are school members and 600 are student members. The state of Florida has over 150 private and public schools that graduate over 8,000 students per year. Your membership is vital in order to continue our promotion and protection of the industry and Florida’s consumers.
- Rick Wallace, Executive Director
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HB 415 by Carroll (SB 996 is identical)
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Cosmetology: Redefines "cosmetology" to include hair technician, esthetician, & nail technician services; includes body wrapping within esthetician services; removes distinction between specialty salons & other salons; authorizes licensure for hair technicians, estheticians, nail technicians, & cosmetologists; authorizes renewal of body wrapping registrations & increases certain requirements; revises qualification, education, licensure & renewal, supervised practice, & endorsement requirements for cosmetologist licenses to include & differentiate for hair technicians, estheticians, & nail technicians; requires board to adopt procedures relating to licensure by endorsement; stipulates DOE can issue grooming & salon services certifications; revises fee provisions, prohibited acts, disciplinary proceedings, penalty, & other provisions to conform to changes in licensure; repeals provision relating to specialty registration, qualifications, registration renewal & endorsement; provides appropriation.
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