SB 335 - LICENSING OF COSMETOLOGISTS CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought SB 335 before the committee as the final order of business. He directed attention to an amendment proposed by Senator Kelly. CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce & Economic Development, speaking in support of the amendment, explained the amendment was drafted to address a concern from an instructor who was questioning the need for an instructor license as well as a hairdresser license because it would mean having to pay two fees. The amendment provides that if an individual has an instructor license to teach a specific occupation, that also gives the individual the power to perform the occupation. SENATOR MACKIE moved the adoption of the following amendment: Amendment No. 1 Page 4, line 16: Following "license" insert "practitioner" Page 4, line 18: Following "." insert: "A person licensed as an instructor is considered to be licensed as a practitioner, and is subject to the same requirements that a practitioner is subject to, in the same area for which the person is licensed as an instructor except that, for purposes of setting fees under AS 08.01.065, the department shall consider instructors to be an occupation separate from practitioners. An instructor license shall state the areas of practice (barbering, hairdressing, manicuring, esthetics, or any combination) in which the licensee is qualified to instruct and practice." Hearing no objection to the adoption of the amendment, CHAIRMAN LEMAN stated the motion carried. Number 352 SENATOR KELLY commented that normally when somebody who has been practicing in the business is grandfathered in, that individual gets a license forever, but the way this legislation is written it is only for six months. MS. REARDON said her understanding of the transitions sections is that everyone has to go through the education and pass the exam in order to practice manicuring, whether they have been doing it for 10 years or whether they are just coming in. Similarly, people who want to teach it are going to have to meet the instructor qualifications for teaching manicuring. She added that she, personally, does not support licensing manicurists. However, she said that since the course is probably going to cost around $3000, and will probably take two to three months to accomplish, she would suggest making the effective date of the bill September 1, 1999, as well as to provide the authority to have an immediate effective date to adopt regulations. SENATOR KELLY moved an Amendment No. 1 to change the effective date of the bill to September 1, 1999, and to draft language giving the department the authority to have an immediate effective date to adopt regulations. Hearing no objection, CHAIRMAN LEMAN stated the motion carried. SENATOR MACKIE asked Ms. Reardon if she supported the legislation. MS. REARDON replied that she has serious concerns about manicurist licensing. SENATOR KELLY said he had some of the same concerns, but he thinks if there are further problems, they can be worked out in the process. SENATOR KELLY moved CSSB 335(L&C) be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.