SB 220-SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF HAIRDRESSING CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced that the first order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 220(L&C) "An Act relating to the scope of practice authorized under a license to practice hairdressing" Number 0075 GERALDINE McINTOSH, Staff to Senator Lyda Green, Alaska State Legislature, testified on behalf of the sponsor of SB 220, Senator Lyda Green. Ms. McIntosh read the sponsor statement as follows: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 220(L&C) amends Alaska Statute 08.13[.170(f)], authorizing the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers to issue a hairdressing license that includes the temporary removal of superfluous hair on the face and neck and the application of basic make-up. These services are typically assumed to be available from a hairdresser. The removal of unwanted hair by means of hair waxing and the application of basic make-up are services that hairdressers should be allowed to practice. Hairdressers are trained and tested in these areas and have always performed these services. Both waxing and basic make-up are a part of the curriculum required to graduate; by statute, current training required for a hairdressing license is 1,650 hours. Included in the 1,650 hours are 15 practical operations of eyebrow arching and hair removal by means of waxing, [tweezing and the use of depilatories] and 15 basic make-up applications, including [skin analysis, complete and corrective make-up and] the application of false eyelashes (12 ACC 09.160). Although the curriculum requires that they perform these operations during the instructional phase, once they are licensed, Alaska state law prohibits them from performing these services for their clients. I respectfully request your support of CSSB 220(L&C), allowing trained professionals to continue a practice that they are fully qualified to do. CHAIR MURKOWSKI surmised that the intention was to include the practice of the removal of excessive hair and waxing [under the hairdresser's license] since it's included in the training. She inquired as to why the removal of excess hair and waxing wasn't included [under the hairdresser's license]. MS. McINTOSH related her belief that the board wanted hairdressers to be prepared if they moved out of state and wanted to become licensed. She said that she was a little unsure as to why it wasn't included in the license for hairdressing. In further response to Chair Murkowski, Ms. McIntosh informed the committee that this issue came to light after Senator Green's office received a petition with 500 signatures from hairdressers and others. It was brought to the hairdressers' attention that they weren't licensed to perform these services and thus the hairdressers had to discontinue providing these services. She clarified that hairdressers that aren't also a licensed aesthetician can't do waxing. REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD asked if this legislation would harm the licensed aesthetician's industry. MS. McINTOSH deferred to the Division of Occupational Licensing's representative. Number 0377 CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), answered that she didn't believe this legislation would hurt the aestheticians. She didn't recall any aestheticians testifying against this minimal sharing of [services], which she suspected was because most aestheticians seem to center their businesses around facials and other such skin care services. Furthermore, there probably hasn't been opposition to this because hairdressers have always believed that they could perform waxing services. Ms. Reardon indicated that this came to light when the division sent out a general advisory to a profession in which the profession is reminded of the types of things that the profession can't do, such as that hairdressers can't perform waxing and hair removal. She didn't envision this as a change in the distribution of work but rather a legalization of current practices. She noted that the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers supports this legislation. CHAIR MURKOWSKI turned to Section 1 of the legislation and related her understanding that a licensed barber wouldn't be able to perform any waxing. MS. REARDON agreed. In further response to Chair Murkowski, Ms. Reardon explained that "limited esthetics" refers to "(A) temporary removal of superfluous hair on the face or neck, including eyebrow arching by use of wax". She said that the aforementioned language would probably include tweezing. She specified that the method of hair removal [allowed would be based] on whether it was temporary removal. She related her belief that electrolysis is marketed as permanent hair removal. In regard to the new developments in skin care, Ms. Reardon suggested that it might be worth revisiting the aesthetician statutes. Number 0818 VANNA PETERSON, Owner, The Hair Loft, testified via teleconference. Ms. Peterson informed the committee that she holds a cosmetology license from the State of Kansas and hairdressing license from the State of Alaska. She pointed out that for both of those licenses, she was required to study facial procedures, including waxing, skin care, and anatomy. Ms. Peterson related that she should have the right to perform what she was trained to perform during her education. Ms. Peterson noted her support of [CSSB 220(L&C)]. Number 0944 DEBRA RIGDON testified via teleconference. She noted that she has a [hairdressing] license from another state and is currently working on her license in Alaska. She said she didn't appreciate having the ability to wax being taken away from hairdressers and now having to work to get it back. She expressed the need to pass [CSSB 220(L&C)]. Number 1004 SANDY GUGGENBICKLER testified via teleconference and informed the committee that she holds a hairdressing license from Alaska and another state. Ms. Guggenbickler announced her support of SB 220. STASHEA STRELAW testified via teleconference in support of [CSSB 220(L&C)]. CECILIA RIDGE testified via teleconference. She echoed earlier testimony with regard to her education including waxing and make-up applications. Ms. Ridge stated her support of [CSSB 220(L&C)]. In response to Chair Murkowski, Ms. Ridge explained that the waxing had to be performed on other students in the class; the waxing training was extensive, she said. Number 1160 REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO moved to report CSSB 220(L&C) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSB 220(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.