The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
SB 288 Original 2020 Regular Session Barrow
Proposed law, relative to the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, defines "natural hair braiding"
as the twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of hair by hand or with
mechanical devices. Provides that "natural hair braiding" includes all of the following:
(1)The use of natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair and fibers, decorative
beads, and other hair accessories.
(2)Minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, wrapping, weaving,
extending, locking, or braiding hair.
(3)The making of wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions.
(4)The use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils, pomades, and
shampoos in conjunction with performing any action involving proposed law.
Proposed law defines a "natural hair braiding service" as any service performed by a natural hair
braider engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding as defined in proposed law.
Defines "mechanical devices" as clips, combs, crochet hooks, curlers, curling irons, hairpins, rollers,
scissors, blunt-tipped needles, thread, and hair binders.
Proposed law prohibits any person from engaging in natural hair braiding without first complying
with all of the following requirements:
(1)The person is at least 16 years of age.
(2)The person has the equivalent training contemplated in the satisfactory completion of the
10th from an approved high school.
(3)The person has completed a minimum of 1,000 hours of instruction from an approved
training program.
(4)The person pays the appropriate fee provided by law.
Proposed law requires the Board to issue a permit to a person to perform natural hair braiding
services after completion of all legal requirements.
Proposed law requires persons engaged in natural hair braiding to complete 24 hours of continuing education classes each year and to provide proof of completion to the board and that persons failing
to complete this 24 hour will be subject to fines as provided by law. Requires that classed be
approved by the Board.
Requires the Board to adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to implement
proposed law.
Present law authorizes the Board to deny the issuance of, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any
certificate of registration or place on probation any registrant, after notice and opportunity for hearing
pursuant to the APA, for specific violations enumerated in present law.
Proposed law retains present law but includes authority to deny the issuance of, suspend, revoke, or
refuse to renew any permit or place on probation any permittee who violates provisions in present
law.
Present law authorizes the Board to immediately suspend a certificate of registration whenever the
cause upon which a hearing is held involves conviction of a felony or the continued practice by a
person with an infectious or contagious condition or disease or mental illness which interferes with
the person's ability to practice.
Proposed law retains present law but includes suspension of a permit under the same conditions in
present law.
Present law authorizes registered cosmetology schools to offer one or more courses, and
postsecondary schools to offer one or more courses as a postsecondary educational program in the
practical training and training and technical instruction extending over a period of not less than nine
consecutive months and including not less than 1,500 hours for the basic course of cosmetology
leading to a cosmetology certificate sufficient to apply for licensure as a cosmetologist.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that a course of study include instruction on the
practice of alternative hair design including natural hair braiding.
Effective August 1, 2020.
(Amends R.S. 37:595(B)(1) and 563(13), (14), (15), (16), (17), 600(A)(intro para) and (B)(intro
para); adds R.S. 37:563(18), (19), (20), (21) and 588))