SB 549 (CORREA): BOARD OF BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY LICENSEE DATA COLLECTION

The Problem

Current data on language, gender, and ethnicity is inadequate amongst workers in the beauty industry. The lack of access to information in a language workers and owners can understand prevents these workers from being fully informed about workplace safety, consumer rights and current laws and regulations that cover the beauty industry. Language barrier is the most often cited challenge nail salon owners and workers report when accessing workplace health and safety information.

In California alone, there are over 114,000 licensed manicurists and more than 260,000 licensed cosmetologists. Estimates of Vietnamese manicurists in California vary widely from 40% to 80%, and many are limited-English-proficient (LEP).

The Solution

SB 549 authorizes the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), the state agency responsible for overseeing the licensure of the beauty industry, to collect language and ethnicity data from new applicants and existing licensees. SB 549 will:

• Enable BBC to effectively communicate current laws and regulations, consumer rights and important health and safety information to LEP owners and workers in the appropriate languages.
• Enable BBC to target hiring of specific bilingual inspectors, staff and/or interpreters in the different regions of California.
• Enhance the development of effective policy and outreach that will better serve the community. For example, the Bay Area Green Business Program can effectively conduct outreach and education by translating documents into the appropriate languages.