HB 243-BARBER, HAIRDRESSER, ESTHETICS LICENSING  4:36:48 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 243, "An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an effective date." 4:37:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 243. She said that the proposed legislation would simply codify existing practice with the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. She explained that currently the board has seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature for four-year terms. She noted that like some other boards and commissions, these are voluntary positions. She said that the board is composed of one licensed barber, two licensed hairdressers or estheticians, licensed body piercer and tattoo artist, a licensed manicurist, one person licensed for something else regulated by the board, and lastly one board member from the public. She said that board members are often working in these professions as small businesses themselves and volunteer to be on the board. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK noted that the purpose of HB 243 is to essentially prevent the possibility for licensure bottlenecking in the state which will ensure that businesses can continue to provide operations without hinderance. She explained that it is currently standard practice with the board to delegate its licensing authority to the Division of Corporations, Businesses, and Professional Licensing. She reiterated that the proposed legislation would "codify" this existing practice. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK said that the sectional analysis just adds language that conforms to existing practice. The sectional analysis [included in committee file], read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1: Amends AS 08.13.030(b). Specifies the authority of the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers to delegate licensing authority to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Section 2: Amends AS 08.13.030(c). Specifies that the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers may refuse to issue licenses or permits. Section 3: Amends AS 08.13.110(d) Conforming language relating to the changes made in Section 1. Specifies that the Board may authorize the issuance of licenses or permits for schools of manicuring. Section 4: Immediate effective date. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK noted that this would clarify that the board would be able not only to issue licenses and permits but also refuse licenses and permits. She said that this would be added to the proposed statute to ensure that this responsibility is part of the board's purview. 4:39:43 PM KEVIN MCKINLEY, Chair, Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, gave invited testimony in support of HB 243. He explained that in addition to his role as chair of the board, he is also a business owner of a tattoo and body piercing shop with four locations in Alaska. He said that he has been operating his business for 35 years. MR. MCKINLEY said that previously the board reviewed applications and it was later determined that there needed to be a more efficient way of approaching applications. He said that the Department of Law suggested that the board create a checklist and put it into regulation, then the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing could use it while reviewing applications. MR. MCKINLEY explained that recently the Department of Law came to the board and said that it suggested that either applications need to be reviewed by the board itself or there needs to be a change in Alaska Statute. He noted that the board unanimously voted to have the statute changed and felt that it would make application processing more efficient. He said that if the bill does not pass, then the application backlog would be substantial. He noted that in 2025, there were 971 applications and this would be difficult for a board of seven volunteers to process. He reiterated that this statute would codify a current working process with the intention that it can reduce bottlenecks in the industry. 4:42:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER told Mr. McKinley that the desire seems intended to sanctify an existing practice and asked whether the practice creates any clouds on the licenses of those who were issued licenses before the proposed legislation might take effect. MR. MCKINLEY responded that he was not sure that he understood the question. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether any questions could be raised about license validity once legislation goes into effect. MR. MCKINLEY responded that this may be a question best addressed by Sylvan Robb. 4:43:34 PM SYLVAN ROBB, Director, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development responded that she did not think that any current licenses were in jeopardy given the proposed legislation. 4:44:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE said that her understanding is that the licensing process would go through the division as opposed to the board and asked whether this was a correct assumption. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK responded that it still preserves the ability of the board to conduct licensing functions, but the legislation permits the board to defer this responsibility to the division. REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked whether the division would be doing the licensing if the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers were disbanded. REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK responded that she was glad this question was asked, and the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers did more than just issue licenses. She noted that having licensed professional seats on the board is important to navigate the profession. 4:45:49 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that HB 243 was held over.