04/19/2017 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

           HB 222-LICENSURE OF MANICURISTS/NAIL TECHS                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:26:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KITO  announced that  the only order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 222, "An  Act relating  to the licensure  of nail                                                               
technicians; and  providing for  an effective date."  [Before the                                                               
committee was CSHB 222(L&C).]                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:26:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MATT  CLAMAN, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  gave an  overview of  HB 222.   He  stated that  HB 222                                                               
would  fix  errors  in Alaska  Statute  regarding  a  grandfather                                                               
clause for people who have  been successfully working in the nail                                                               
industry  for  several  years.     Previously,  individuals  were                                                               
"grandfathered" for three  years, after which they  would have to                                                               
retake the 250  hours of instruction required  of new applicants.                                                               
He expressed that  the original intent of  the grandfather clause                                                               
is that  if an individual  has experience, he/she  shouldn't have                                                               
to take the required instruction if he/she has experience.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:27:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SULLIVAN-LEONARD   asked  whether   manicurists,                                                               
regardless  of previous  experience, must  pass a  test to  prove                                                               
skills and knowledge.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN answered yes.   He added that the bill also                                                               
addresses  the  fact  that  the  department  only  had  the  test                                                               
translated  into four  languages,  although there  are many  nail                                                               
technicians who  don't speak  any of those  four languages.   The                                                               
bill  includes provisions  to ensure  that  the department  would                                                               
make accommodations for  those who may not speak one  of the four                                                               
languages.   He clarified that  all nail technicians  would still                                                               
have to prove competency as a manicurist in an examination.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:28:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KITO  asked whether, under  HB 222, nail  technicians would                                                               
have a  continuing education requirement  with health  and safety                                                               
components.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CLAMAN offered  his understanding  that there  is                                                               
not a continuing education requirement  for nail technicians.  He                                                               
stated that the bill would not add such a requirement.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:28:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
OWEN PHILLIPS,  Staff, Representative  Matt Claman,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of  Representative Claman,  prime sponsor                                                               
of HB 222,  explained that those who are unable  to take the test                                                               
would be required to take  education courses to obtain the skills                                                               
necessary to  take the  exam to  renew their  license.   The bill                                                               
does  not require  educational credits;  the exam  would "sit  in                                                               
for" any education component.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:29:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL  moved to report  HB 222, as amended,  out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal notes.  There being  no objection, CSHB 222(L&C) was moved                                                               
from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.