BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 578

By: White, James

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It is unclear whether certain basic hair services, such as combing, curling, or pinning a person's hair for a special event, including a wedding, are within the scope of practice of cosmetology under the Occupations Code. Currently, it appears that such practices must be performed by a licensed cosmetologist at a licensed cosmetology facility. Interested parties assert that since these basic hair services do not include traditional cosmetology services, such as cutting, coloring, dyeing, or processing a person's hair, the services should not be considered in the scope of practice of cosmetology, allowing the services to be performed somewhere other than at a licensed cosmetology facility. H.B. 578 seeks to clarify this issue.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 578 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from statutory provisions governing cosmetologists a person who provides an incidental cosmetic service, including combing, curling, or pinning a person's hair, but not including cutting, coloring, dyeing, or processing a person's hair, at the location of a special event, including a wedding, if the person does not represent that the person is a cosmetologist.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.