Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Legislative Analysis
                                                                                       Phone: (517) 373-8080
BARBER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
                                                                                       http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 5786 as reported from committee                                             Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Jaime Churches                                                           http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Regulatory Reform
Complete to 12-10-24
SUMMARY:
           House Bill 5786 would amend the Occupational Code to reduce the number of apprenticeship
           or barber college hours an individual must have to be licensed as a barber in Michigan.
           Currently, among other requirements, an individual must complete at least 1,800 hours in a
           barber apprenticeship program or a course of study at a barber college to qualify for a license.
           The bill would reduce the required minimum to 1,500 hours.
           The bill also would modify the licensing requirements for barber colleges to require a college
           to offer a 1,500-hour educational program, with the specific breakdown of hours of classroom
           study and practical barber training to be determined by the Department of Licensing and
           Regulatory Affairs (LARA) by rule. (For the current 1,800-hour requirement, a breakdown of
           225 classroom hours and 1,575 hours of practical barber training is specifically provided in the
           act.)
           In addition, the code allows a student at a barber college to substitute up to 1,000 hours of
           substantially similar instruction from a school of cosmetology for the required hours of
           instruction at the barber college. The bill would have the effect of increasing the percentage of
           required hours that can be substituted under this provision from 56% to 67%.
           MCL 339.1108 and 339.1110
BRIEF DISCUSSION:
           Supporters of the bill argued that the majority of other states require barbers to undergo
           education of 1,500 hours or less. 1 They contended that lessening Michigan’s requirements
           would make it easier to enter the profession for residents and for out-of-state barbers who wish
           to move here and practice.
FISCAL IMPACT:
           House Bill 5786 would not have a fiscal impact on any unit of state or local government.
                                                                      Legislative Analyst:   Alex Stegbauer
                                                                           Fiscal Analyst:   Una Jakupovic
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
1
    https://ij.org/report/license-to-work-3/ltw-occupation-profile/barber/
House Fiscal Agency                                                                                     Page 1 of 1
Statutes affected: 
House Introduced Bill: 339.1108, 339.1110
As Passed by the House: 339.1108, 339.1110