Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in or attempting to engage in the practice of barbering unless the person has been issued a license as a barber or apprentice by the State Barbers' Health and Sanitation Board. (NRS 643.190) Existing law requires, as a qualification to receive a license as a barber, a person to pass an examination and to: (1) practice as a licensed apprentice for a period of 18 months under the supervision of a licensed barber; or (2) if the person is licensed in certain fields of cosmetology, complete 400 hours of specialized training at a barber school approved by the Board. (NRS 643.070, 643.085) Existing law also requires a person to graduate from a school of barbering approved by the Board and pass an examination to be qualified to receive a license as an apprentice. (NRS 643.080) Section 3 of this bill requires the Board to establish and administer a studentship program to allow a person who does not meet the qualifications for licensure as a barber or apprentice barber to engage in the practice of barbering at a barbershop under the immediate personal supervision of a sponsor and to be admitted to examination for licensure upon the successful completion of the program. Section 3 sets forth various requirements for the studentship program and requires the Board to adopt regulations governing the program. Section 4 of this bill requires a person who wishes to participate in the studentship program to submit to the Board a fee in an amount determined by the Board and an application containing certain information. If the applicant satisfies certain requirements, section 4 requires the Board to issue the applicant a certificate of registration as a program participant. Section 5 of this bill prohibits a program participant from rendering barbering services unless the program participant is under the immediate personal supervision of his or her sponsor, which section 3 requires to be a licensed barber who has practiced in this State for at least 10 years. Section 10 of this bill provides that a person who successfully completes the studentship program, passes an examination and meets certain other requirements provided for under existing law is qualified to receive a license as a barber. Section 12 of this bill requires a program participant who fails an examination for licensure as a barber to complete further study in an amount and in a manner prescribed by the Board before retaking the examination. Sections 1, 11 and 14-17 of this bill add references to a program participant to certain provisions of existing law governing barbers and apprentices so that program participants are treated the same as barbers and apprentices for certain purposes, including, without limitation, for purposes of the imposition of disciplinary action, certain application requirements and certain offenses relating to the practice of barbering. Existing law requires the Board to adopt regulations establishing sanitary requirements for barbershops and barber schools. (NRS 643.050) Section 9 of this bill eliminates that requirement. Section 6 of this bill instead requires the State Board of Health or a local board of health to adopt regulations prescribing those sanitary requirements and requires the health authority to enforce those requirements. Section 13 of this bill makes a conforming change to reflect the changes made by sections 6 and 9 which transfer the authority to adopt regulations establishing sanitary requirements for barbershops and barber schools from the Board to the State Board of Health or local board of health. Under existing law, the three members of the Board are appointed by the Governor and serve terms of 4 years. (NRS 643.020) Section 8 of this bill decreases the length of a term for a member of the Board to 2 years. Section 7 of this bill defines words and terms for the purposes of this bill.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 640C.100, 643.010, 643.020, 643.050, 643.070, 643.095, 643.110, 643.1716, 643.185, 643.188, 643.190, 643.200
BDR: 640C.100, 643.010, 643.020, 643.050, 643.070, 643.095, 643.110, 643.1716, 643.185, 643.188, 643.190, 643.200