SB 2160 Summary

• Merges the State Board of Cosmetology and State Board of Barber Examiners into a single State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, effective July 1, 2023.

• Reorganizes the merged board to consist of the State Health Officer (or designee) plus six appointed members: one manicurist/esthetician, two cosmetologists (one salon owner), and three barbers, with two members from each Supreme Court district and six-year terms.

• Appoints an Executive Director as a full-time position to manage board operations, hired and compensated by the board subject to State Personnel Board approval.

• Allows apprenticeship programs as alternatives to traditional school training for cosmetologists (3,000 hours), estheticians (1,200 hours), manicurists (700 hours), and barbers (3,000 hours), with mentorship by licensed instructors limited to one apprentice per mentor.

• Establishes a three-tier fine structure for violations (Class A: $500-$1,000; Class B: $250-$750; Class C: $100-$500) and increases minimum criminal penalties for unlicensed practice to $500-$1,000.