New York S 5438: Relates to license requirements for natural hair styling

Bill Text

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S05438 Summary:

BILL NOS05438 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A06592

&nbsp

SPONSORCLEARE

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §§400, 406 & 407, add §406-a, Gen Bus L

&nbsp

Provides for license requirements for natural hair styling that are distinct and separate from other practices of cosmetology.

Go to top S05438 Actions:

BILL NOS05438 

&nbsp

02/21/2025REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

Go to topS05438 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05438 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS05438 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5438

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 21, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection

 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the license
 requirements for natural hair styling

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that
 2 natural hair styling is a practice that is rich in cultural history. The
 3 legislature further finds that natural hair styling is distinct and
 4 separate from other practices of cosmetology. Therefore, the legislature
 5 finds that natural hair styling shall have its own licensing plan that
 6 is culturally sensitive and takes into account the history of natural
 7 hair stylists.
 8 § 2. Subdivision 5 of section 400 of the general business law, as
 9 amended by chapter 343 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as
 10 follows:
 11 5. The practice of "natural hair styling" means providing for a fee,
 12 or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, any of the
 13 following services to the hair of a human being: shampooing, arranging,
 14 dressing, twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding
 15 the hair or beard by either hand or mechanical appliances. Such practice
 16 shall not include cutting, shaving or trimming hair except that such
 17 activities are permissible to the extent that such activities are inci-
 18 dental to the practice of natural hair styling. Such practice shall not
 19 include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other prepara-
 20 tions to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure
 21 of the hair. Techniques which result in tension on hair roots such as
 22 certain types of braiding, weaving, wrapping, locking and extending of
 23 the hair may only be performed by a [natural hair styling] person
 24 licensed to practice natural hair styling pursuant to section four
 25 hundred six-a of this article, or a cosmetology licensee who has

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10065-01-5

 S. 5438 2

 1 successfully completed an approved course of study in such techniques.
 2 Natural hair styling is distinct from the practice of cosmetology and
 3 does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other
 4 preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or
 5 alter the structure of the hair; or the use of chemical hair joining
 6 agents such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds, or fusion bonds.
 7 § 3. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 406-a
 8 to read as follows:
 9 § 406-a. Natural hair styling license application; educational
 10 requirements; procedures. 1. a. Any person intending to practice natural
 11 hair styling, or to own and operate an appearance enhancement business
 12 solely offering natural hair styling services, shall first make applica-
 13 tion to the secretary for a license therefor.
 14 b. Such application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the
 15 secretary, and provided to the applicant in their natural language or in
 16 a language in which the applicant is proficient.
 17 c. Each application shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee as
 18 prescribed by this article.
 19 d. Each application shall be accompanied by a certificate of a duly
 20 licensed physician, or nurse practitioner to the extent authorized by
 21 law and consistent wit