Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 660 amends the Occupations Code to transfer from the Texas Board of Health and the Texas Department of Health to the State Board of Barber Examiners rulemaking authority regarding the practice and teaching of barbering. The bill provides that a person who holds a license, certificate, or permit to perform barbering from another state or country may apply for a reciprocal license, certificate, or permit in this state if the person meets certain requirements. The bill adds the requirement that an applicant practice barbering for 12 months before the issuance of a barbershop permit, and it increases the number of hours of instruction in manicuring required in order to receive a manicurist license from 300 to 600 to be completed in a course of not less than 16 weeks rather than 8.

            The bill also establishes a Barber School Tuition Protection Account, provides that the board is to collect a fee from each barber school if the account balance is less than $25,000 on January 1 of any year, and establishes guidelines for the administration of the account. The bill deletes provisions and repeals laws regarding wig instructions, specialists, schools and speciality shops, journeyman barber permits, and surety bonds.