Bill Text - HB82 (2017)

Relative to hair braiding.


Revision: May 18, 2017, 10:57 a.m.

HB 82 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

 

04/20/2017   1314s

2017 SESSION

17-0030

10/06

 

HOUSE BILL 82

 

AN ACT relative to hair braiding.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. Schleien, Hills. 37; Rep. E. Edwards, Hills. 11

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill exempts hair braiding from regulation by the board of barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/20/2017   1314s 17-0030

10/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to hair braiding.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Purpose.  The general court finds that natural hair braiding is a traditional practice that is safe.  It presents no significant health or safety risks to customers or practitioners.  The state has no interest in requiring persons practicing natural hair braiding to obtain an occupational license which makes it unnecessarily difficult to earn an honest living through their practice, to provide for themselves and their families, to offer their services to and compete for customers, and to create new employment and business opportunities through their entrepreneurship.  In addition, such occupational regulation harms consumers by limiting their choices or forcing them to forgo braiding services or enter the underground economy.

2  New Paragraph; Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics; Exemption Added; Natural Hair Braiding.  Amend RSA 313-A:25 by inserting after paragraph XII the following new paragraph:

XIII.  Persons engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding.  For purposes of this chapter, "natural hair braiding" means the service of twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair by hand or with mechanical devices, such as clips, combs, crochet hooks, curlers, curling irons, hairpins, rollers, scissors, blunt-tipped needles, thread, and hair binders.  

(a)  Natural hair braiding includes:

(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; and

(4)  The use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils, pomades, and shampoos in conjunction with services in subparagraphs (1)-(3).

(b)  Natural hair braiding is commonly known as "African-style hair braiding" but is not limited to any particular cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious forms of hair styles.

(c)  Natural hair braiding does not include:

(1)  The application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair; or

(2)  The use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds, or fusion bonds.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.