Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) announced that legislation he sponsored during the spring session of the Illinois House of Representatives, aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles for cosmetology and esthetician teachers seeking specialty endorsements, has been signed into law.

Severin was prompted to act after a constituent teaching barber and cosmetology-related classes at Rend Lake College informed him that she was required to retake the same courses she had been teaching for over 30 years in order to become a licensed barber teacher. "I was floored to learn that someone who teaches occupation-related classes would have to take those same classes to become a barber teacher," Severin said. "If you teach classes to become a barber, why would you have to take those same classes as a student in order to earn your endorsement? This was the definition of unnecessary and wasteful red tape that we hear so much about in Illinois. I was glad to earn the unanimous support of my colleagues in the House and Senate on this important piece of legislation. I am happy to report this measure has been signed into law."

House Bill 4570 amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act. According to the statute, a licensed cosmetology teacher applying for licensure as a barber teacher must meet all requirements of the Act unless they have at least three years of experience as a licensed cosmetology teacher. The new law allows credit for hours of instruction completed for their cosmetology license in subjects common to both barbering and cosmetology within the supplemental barber course.

The legislation was signed into law on Friday, July 19. For more information, search for HB 4570 on ILGA.gov or visit RepSeverin.com.

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