S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6592
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Economic Development
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the general business law, in relation to the license
   requirements for natural hair styling
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The legislature hereby finds that
 natural hair styling is a practice that is rich in cultural history. The
 legislature further finds that natural  hair  styling  is  distinct  and
 separate from other practices of cosmetology. Therefore, the legislature
 finds  that  natural hair styling shall have its own licensing plan that
 is culturally sensitive and takes into account the  history  of  natural
 hair stylists.
   §  2.  Subdivision  5  of  section 400 of the general business law, as
 amended by chapter 343 of the laws  of  1998,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   5.  The  practice of "natural hair styling" means providing for a fee,
 or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, any of the
 following services to the hair of a human being: shampooing,  arranging,
 dressing,  twisting,  wrapping,  weaving, extending, locking or braiding
 the hair or beard by either hand or mechanical appliances. Such practice
 shall not include cutting, shaving or trimming  hair  except  that  such
 activities  are permissible to the extent that such activities are inci-
 dental to the practice of natural hair styling. Such practice shall  not
 include  the  application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other prepara-
 tions to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the  structure
 of  the  hair.  Techniques which result in tension on hair roots such as
 certain types of braiding, weaving, wrapping, locking and  extending  of
 the  hair  may  only  be  performed  by  a [natural hair styling] PERSON
 LICENSED TO PRACTICE NATURAL  HAIR  STYLING  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  FOUR
 HUNDRED  SIX-A  OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  or  A  cosmetology  licensee who has
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10065-01-5
              

 A. 6592                             2
 
 successfully completed an approved course of study in  such  techniques.
 NATURAL  HAIR  STYLING  IS DISTINCT FROM THE PRACTICE OF COSMETOLOGY AND
 DOES NOT INCLUDE 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 THE USE  OF  CHEMICAL  HAIR  JOINING
 AGENTS SUCH AS SYNTHETIC TAPE, KERATIN BONDS, OR FUSION BONDS.
   § 3. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 406-a
 to read as follows:
   §   406-A.  NATURAL  HAIR  STYLING  LICENSE  APPLICATION;  EDUCATIONAL
 REQUIREMENTS; PROCEDURES. 1. A. ANY PERSON INTENDING TO PRACTICE NATURAL
 HAIR STYLING, OR TO OWN AND OPERATE AN APPEARANCE  ENHANCEMENT  BUSINESS
 SOLELY OFFERING NATURAL HAIR STYLING SERVICES, SHALL FIRST MAKE APPLICA-
 TION TO THE SECRETARY FOR A LICENSE THEREFOR.
   B.  SUCH  APPLICATION  SHALL BE IN A FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE
 SECRETARY, AND PROVIDED TO THE APPLICANT IN THEIR NATURAL LANGUAGE OR IN
 A LANGUAGE IN WHICH THE APPLICANT IS PROFICIENT.
   C. EACH APPLICATION SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY  THE  APPROPRIATE  FEE  AS
 PRESCRIBED BY THIS ARTICLE.
   D.  EACH  APPLICATION  SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF A DULY
 LICENSED PHYSICIAN, OR NURSE PRACTITIONER TO THE  EXTENT  AUTHORIZED  BY
 LAW  AND  CONSISTENT WITH SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION SIX THOUSAND NINE
 HUNDRED TWO OF THE EDUCATION LAW ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE  SECRETARY,
 SHOWING  FREEDOM  FROM  ANY  INFECTIOUS  OR  COMMUNICABLE  DISEASE WHICH
 CERTIFICATE SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE  DATE
 OF THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION.
   2.  A.  EACH APPLICANT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE AN
 EDUCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM GIVEN  AND  ADMINISTERED  BY  NATURAL  HAIR
 STYLIST TRAINING SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE FOR NATURAL HAIR STYLING
 TRAINING,  OR  NATURAL  HAIR STYLISTS LICENSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,
 WHICH SHALL NOT EXCEED FORTY HOURS AND OF WHICH  A  SIGNIFICANT  PORTION
 SHALL BE FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS, AND WHICH SHALL INCLUDE
 A  PRACTICAL  SKILLS ASSESSMENT SOLELY TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN THE
 BRAIDING OF HAIR. THE SECRETARY SHALL REVIEW  AND  APPROVE  SUCH  EDUCA-
 TIONAL  TRAINING  PROGRAM.  UPON  COMPLETION  OF THE REQUIRED COURSE, AN
 APPLICANT SHALL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING SATISFACTORY COMPLETION
 THEREOF.
   B. ALL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND THE PRACTICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT SHALL
 BE ADMINISTERED IN THE APPLICANT'S NATURAL LANGUAGE OR IN A LANGUAGE  IN
 WHICH THE APPLICANT IS PROFICIENT.
   3.  A.  ANY  PERSON  SEVENTEEN  YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER MAY APPLY TO THE
 SECRETARY FOR A LICENSE TO PRACTICE NATURAL HAIR STYLING.
   B. EACH SUCH APPLICATION SHALL ALSO  BE  ACCOMPANIED  BY  SATISFACTORY
 EVIDENCE  OF  THE  APPLICANT  HAVING  COMPLETED THE REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL
 COMPONENT AS WELL AS THE PRACTICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT.
   C. ANY APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE TO PRACTICE NATURAL  HAIR  STYLING  MAY
 SUBMIT  SATISFACTORY  EVIDENCE  OF  LICENSURE  TO PRACTICE AN EQUIVALENT
 OCCUPATION ISSUED BY ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY, PROTECTORATE OR DEPEND-
 ENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN LIEU OF  THE  EVIDENCE
 OF  EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION,
 OR THE APPLICANT IS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF A MEMBER OF  THE  ARMED
 FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND WAS A MEMBER
 OF SUCH HOUSEHOLD BEFORE SUCH MEMBER RELOCATED TO THE STATE.
   4.  UPON  ACCEPTANCE  BY  THE SECRETARY OF A PROPER APPLICATION FOR AN
 OPERATOR'S LICENSE TO PRACTICE NATURAL HAIR STYLING, THE  SECRETARY  MAY
 ISSUE  A TEMPORARY OPERATOR'S LICENSE WHICH SHALL EXPIRE SIX MONTHS FROM
 ISSUANCE. UPON GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, THE SECRETARY  MAY  RENEW  A  TEMPORARY
 A. 6592                             3
 
 OPERATOR'S  LICENSE  FOR ONE ADDITIONAL SIX-MONTH PERIOD UPON FILING THE
 APPROPRIATE APPLICATION AND FEE.
   5.  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION AND
 THE TESTING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION,  OR  ANY  OTHER  EDUCATION  OR
 TESTING  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS ARTICLE, AN UNLICENSED PERSON PRACTICING
 NATURAL HAIR STYLING IN NEW YORK STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE OR COUNTRY FOR
 AT LEAST FIVE YEARS SHALL BE PERMITTED TO APPLY FOR A NATURAL HAIR STYL-
 ING LICENSE IN NEW YORK STATE. THE APPLICANT SHALL BE ISSUED A TEMPORARY
 NATURAL HAIR STYLING LICENSE UPON PROVIDING EVIDENCE  OF  SUCH  REQUIRED
 WORK  EXPERIENCE.    IF EVIDENCE OF WORK EXPERIENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR
 ANY REASON, AN APPLICANT SHALL SELF-ATTEST TO SUCH  REQUIRED  EXPERIENCE
 ON  A  FORM  APPROVED  BY THE SECRETARY. SUCH TEMPORARY LICENSE SHALL BE
 VALID FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS AND  SHALL  BECOME  PERMANENT  UPON  THE
 APPLICANT'S  COMPLETION OF AN EDUCATIONAL COURSE, GIVEN AND ADMINISTERED
 BY NATURAL HAIR STYLIST TRAINING  SCHOOLS,  SCHOOLS  WHICH  PROVIDE  FOR
 NATURAL  HAIR STYLING TRAINING, OR NATURAL HAIR STYLISTS LICENSED PURSU-
 ANT TO THIS ARTICLE, WHICH SHALL NOT EXCEED TWENTY HOURS  AND  SHALL  BE
 FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
   6.  AN  APPLICANT  WHO OTHERWISE HAS MET THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF
 THIS ARTICLE FOR A NATURAL HAIR STYLIST LICENSE WHO SHALL PROVIDE SATIS-
 FACTORY EVIDENCE THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY AND CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGED IN THE
 PRACTICE OF NATURAL HAIR STYLING FOR AT LEAST  ONE  YEAR  PRIOR  TO  THE
 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, MAY BE ISSUED A LICENSE FOR NATURAL HAIR
 STYLING  PURSUANT  TO  THIS ARTICLE. NOTWITHSTANDING THE EDUCATIONAL AND
 TESTING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION,  A  PERSON  LICENSED  TO  PRACTICE
 BARBERING  UNDER  ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER WHO OTHERWISE HAS
 MET THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE ISSUED  A  LICENSE
 TO PRACTICE NATURAL HAIRSTYLING.
   7.  A.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE TO THE
 CONTRARY, IF ANY PERSON, ELIGIBLE FOR ANY LICENSE PURSUANT TO THIS ARTI-
 CLE, SHOULD BE CALLED TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE AT OR DURING  THE  TIME
 APPLICATION  FOR  ANY  LICENSE  IS  REQUIRED TO BE FILED AND LICENSE FEE
 PAID, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  THE  PERIOD  WITHIN
 WHICH  SAID  APPLICATION  MAY  BE  FILED AND LICENSE FEE MAY BE PAID, IS
 EXTENDED ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON, UNTIL THREE  MONTHS AFTER THE  TERMI-
 NATION OF SAID MILITARY SERVICE.
   B.  IN  THE  CASE OF PERSONS WHO ARE CALLED TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE
 AND WILL BE DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE, THE PERIOD  OF  TWO
 YEARS  SPECIFIED  IN PARAGRAPH D OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION NEED
 NOT BE CONTINUOUS. THE LENGTH OF TIME SUCH PERSON  WAS  ENGAGED  IN  THE
 PRACTICE OF NATURAL HAIR STYLING BEFORE ENTERING ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE
 MAY  BE  ADDED  TO ANY PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH SUCH PERSON WAS OR IS
 ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE OF NAIL SPECIALTY, WAXING, NATURAL HAIR STYLING,
 ESTHETICS OR  COSMETOLOGY  AFTER  THE  TERMINATION  OF  ACTIVE  MILITARY
 SERVICE.
   §  4.  Paragraph a of subdivision 1, subdivision 2, and paragraph b of
 subdivision 4 of section 406 of the general business law, as amended  by
 chapter  341  of  the  laws of 1998, and paragraph c of subdivision 2 as
 amended by section 3 of part D of chapter 328 of the laws of  2014,  are
 amended to read as follows:
   a.  Any  person intending to practice nail specialty, waxing, [natural
 hair styling,] esthetics or cosmetology as defined in this  article,  or
 to  own  or operate an appearance enhancement business, shall first make
 application to the secretary for a license therefor.
 A. 6592                             4
 
   2. a. Any person seventeen years of age or  older  may  apply  to  the
 secretary  for  a  license  to practice nail specialty, waxing, [natural
 hair styling,] esthetics or cosmetology.
   b.  Each  such  application  shall also be accompanied by satisfactory
 evidence of having taken and passed the appropriate examination or exam-
 inations offered by the secretary  pursuant  to  this  article  for  the
 license  sought and evidence of the successful completion of an approved
 course of study in  nail  specialty,  waxing,  [natural  hair  styling,]
 esthetics  or  cosmetology  in  a  school  duly licensed pursuant to the
 education law.
   c. Any applicant for a license to  practice  nail  specialty,  waxing,
 [natural hair styling,] esthetics or cosmetology may submit satisfactory
 evidence of licensure to practice an equivalent occupation issued by any
 other  state, territory, protectorate or dependency of the United States
 or any other country in lieu of the evidence of schooling  and  examina-
 tion required by this subdivision, provided that such license was grant-
 ed  in  compliance  with  standards  which  were, in the judgment of the
 secretary, not lower than those of this state  and  provided  that  such
 state,  territory,  protectorate, dependency, or country extends similar
 reciprocity to the licensees of this state, or the  applicant  practiced
 an equivalent occupation in such state, territory, protectorate, depend-
 ency  or  country  for  a  minimum  of five years, or the applicant is a
 member of the household of a member of the armed forces  of  the  United
 States,  national  guard  or reserves and was a member of such household
 before such member relocated to the state.
   d. Notwithstanding the educational requirements of  this  section  and
 the testing requirements of this section, an applicant who otherwise has
 met  the  licensing  requirements of this article for a nail specialist,
 waxer, [natural hair stylist,] esthetician or  cosmetologist  who  shall
 provide  satisfactory  evidence  [he or she has] THEY HAVE been actively
 and continuously engaged in the  practice  of  nail  specialty,  waxing,
 [natural  hair  styling,] esthetics or cosmetology for at least one year
 prior to the effective date of this article, may be issued a license for
 nail specialty, waxing, [natural hair styling,] esthetics or cosmetology
 pursuant to this article. [Notwithstanding the educational  and  testing
 requirements  of  this  section, a person licensed to practice barbering
 under article twenty-eight of this chapter who  otherwise  has  met  the
 licensing  requirements of this article may be issued a license to prac-
 tice natural hairstyling.] Other than applicants licensed under  article
 twenty-eight  of  this  chapter,  those persons who apply after a twelve
 month period from the effective date of this article will be required to
 provide evidence of training and to take the examination or examinations
 as required for other licenses pursuant to this article.
   e. Upon acceptance by the secretary of a  proper  application  for  an
 operator's  license  to  practice nail speciality, waxing, [natural hair
 styling,] esthetics or cosmetology, the secretary may issue a  temporary
 operator's  license  which  shall  expire six months from issuance. Upon
 good cause shown, the secretary may renew a temporary operator's license
 for one additional six-month period upon filing the appropriate applica-
 tion and fee.
   b. In the case of persons who are called to  active  military  service
 and  will  be discharged from active military service, the period of two
 years specified in paragraph d of subdivision two of this  section  need
 not  be  continuous.  The  length of time such person was engaged in the
 practice of nail specialty, waxing, [natural hair styling,] esthetics or
 cosmetology before entering active military service may be added to  any
 A. 6592                             5
 
 period  of  time during which such person was or is engaged in the prac-
 tice of nail specialty, waxing, [natural  hair  styling,]  esthetics  or
 cosmetology after the termination of active military service.
   §  5.  Subdivision  1  of  section 407 of the general business law, as
 amended by chapter 255 of the laws  of  1999,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  The  examinations  for the license to practice [natural hair styl-
 ing,] esthetics, nail specialty and cosmetology shall be  practical  and
 written.  The  examinations  for the license to practice waxing shall be
 limited to a written examination only.  The  secretary  shall  determine
 reasonable  standards of performance for each license and shall evaluate
 the prospective applicants and applicants on the basis  of  such  stand-
 ards.  The  objectives  of  the  examinations  shall  be  to insure that
 prospective applicants and applicants have sufficient  basic  skills  to
 safeguard  the  health  and  safety  of  the  public  and to insure that
 prospective applicants and applicants have attained adequate  levels  of
 skill to competently engage in the activities authorized by the license.
   §  6.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.