Sen. Formica Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Expand Hairdressing and Cosmetology Career Options

Hartford – State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) is applauding the state Senate’s passage of a bill to expand career options in the hairdressing and cosmetology fields.

Senator Formica proposed Senate Bill 548 to expand the state’s barber apprenticeship provisions to include hairdressers and cosmeticians. This change would reduce cost barriers to attain licensing by allowing aspiring hairdressers and cosmeticians to participate in an apprenticeship program.

“This proposal is about removing obstacles and giving more people a pathway to opportunity and success,” said Sen. Formica. “Many individuals may not be able to afford the traditional path to obtain a cosmetology or hairdressing license by attending a trade school. By expanding the barber apprenticeship program to include hairdressers and cosmeticians we can reduce barriers and give people an opportunity to pursue a more affordable path to attain a license and enter the workforce through hands on experience.”

In 2015 Public Act 15-31 created criteria to establish a barber apprenticeship program in which individuals who complete the program can attain a barber license. This allows individuals to pursue a career as a barber by working in the field as an apprentice, enabling individuals to obtain a license without the expense of attending a trade school for 1,000 hours of training. Senate Bill 548 expands the apprenticeship program to include hairdressers and cosmeticians.

The bill was approved with unanimous support in the Senate on May 3 and now moves to the House of Representatives. The legislative session ends on June 7, 2017.

Senator Formica represents Bozrah, East Lyme, a portion of Montville, New London, Old Lyme, a portion of Old Saybrook, Salem, and Waterford. For more information visit www.senatorformica.com.