Public Act 098-0911 (HB4790) Summary

• Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985 to eliminate separate "clinic teacher" license categories for barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, and nail technicians, consolidating these roles into standard teacher licenses.

• Allows cosmetology teachers to teach and practice hair braiding without requiring a separate hair braiding teacher license, expanding the scope of existing teacher licenses.

• Adds new Section 3B-16 to permit the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to waive certain school operational requirements for barber, cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding, and nail technology programs operated by the Department of Corrections in correctional facilities when necessary for institutional safety and security.

• Establishes new confidentiality protections in Section 4-24 that require the Department to keep examination and investigation information confidential, with limited exceptions for law enforcement and other regulatory agencies; formal complaints and disciplinary orders remain public records.

• Replaces references to "Committee" with "Board" throughout the Act and makes minor technical amendments to align terminology and remove obsolete licensing categories.