Severin Legislation Cutting Red Tape for Cosmetology Profession Signed into Law

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) is reporting that legislation he sponsored during the spring Session of the Illinois House of Representatives that will cut red tape for cosmetology and esthetician teachers who wish to add specialty endorsements to their professional licenses has been signed into law.

Severin says a constituent who teaches barber and other cosmetology-related classes at Rend Lake College informed him that when she sought to become a barber teacher, she was told she would have to take the classes she had been teaching for more than 30 years to earn that endorsement on her license.

“I was floored to learn that someone who teaches occupation-related classes would have to take those same classes to become a barber teacher,” Severin said. “If you teach classes to become a barber, why would you have to take those same classes as a student in order to earn your endorsement? This was the definition of unnecessary and wasteful red tape that we hear so much about in Illinois. I was glad to earn the unanimous support of my colleagues in the House and Senate on this important piece of legislation. I am happy to report this measure has been signed into law.”

HB 4570 amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act. The plain language of the statute says that a licensed cosmetology teacher who submits to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation an application for licensure as a barber teacher must meet all requirements of the Act except if that applicant has at least 3 years of experience as a licensed cosmetology teacher. The new law gives credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her cosmetology license in subjects that are common to both barbering and cosmetology in the supplemental barber course.

The legislation was signed into law on Friday, July 19. For more information, search for HB 4570 on ILGA.gov or visit RepSeverin.com.

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