Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1011062
26 • THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2018 SB 999, Morrell (R) Rancho Cucamonga—This bill would have removed: "The practices of shampooing, arranging, dressing, curling and waving the hair of any person from the practice of barbering and cosmetology. The bill would remove the practice of hair styling of all textures of hair by standard methods that are current at the time of the hair styling from the practice of barbering. The bill would also remove the practice of cleansing or beautifying the hair of any person from the practice of cosmetology. The bill would require a person who engages in practices of arranging, beautify- ing, cleansing, curling, dressing, shampooing or waving the hair of any person at an establish- ment to provide notice to consumers of his or her licensure status. Because the bill would create a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandat- ed local program." Members of Local 706 realized the prob- lems this bill would cre- ate, enlisted the help of their president, who joined forces with the California State Board of Cosmetology, the Professional Beauty Association and the California Labor Federation. All those years of learning legisla- tive processes and alli- ances would now come into play. There were so many flaws in the "research" that Sen. Morrell and the lobbying group claimed to have done, it became very evident that this bill would seriously affect our film, television and Disneyland Collective Bargaining Agreements. Everything moved very quickly. SB 999 had already been sent to the senate for approval and had passed. This meant the next stop would be the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee. SB 999: Local 706 OPPOSED and WE CRUSHED IT! By Sue Cabral-Ebert, President We became determined to stop this bill in committee, to crush it. Assembly member Richard Bloom (D-Malibu, Santa Monica, Hollywood) was immediately contacted to alert him that Local 706 would be in opposition to this bill. Co-author Ben Allen (D-South Bay, Westside, Hollywood) was also alerted that Local 706 would be in opposition. Assemblyman Bloom's staff stated they had received more than 900 phone calls and emails asking for him to vote "no" on the bill. I was asked to testify before the committee, one of two who were allowed to speak in opposition to the bill. Dr. Kari Williams, president of the California Board of Cosmetology, and I flew to Sacramento to give our tes- timony. Sen. Morrell gave his proposal to deregulate the cosmetology license, stating how unnecessary it was and devaluing the educational aspect, as well as devaluing the skills of hair stylists. It was infuriating. He went on to falsely state that education was expensive and was a bar- rier to ethnic groups being able to afford it. Somehow, he forgot to mention that more than 30 community colleges and trade schools throughout California offer the cosme- tology license very affordably. He completely ignored the health and safety aspects. Basically, it was his opinion that anybody should just be able to start shampooing, styling, curling, dressing and waving hair with no training whatso- ever. The California Labor Federation opposed this concept on the basis that lowering the standards would lead to lowering wages in the profession. We want to maintain the standards, not lower them. I asked if they would prefer an unlicensed, uneducated person to deal with lice, impetigo or allergic reactions? Dr. Kari and I were each given one minute before the microphone. Then Sen. Morrell and his team had time to rebut, then take questions from the committee. After that, the Professional Beauty Association and the Cal Labor Fed, plus more than 100 hair stylists, salon owners, school owners and students from all over California came before the mic to voice their opposition. Dr. Kari and I were a bit nervous as most of the questions from the committee were seemingly pro-deregulation. Even though we had information that seemed to lead us to believe we would prevail, you never know. Then came the vote … we were victorious! (Three YES, 14 NO, two weren't around for the vote.) The halls outside the committee hearing room erupted in joyous celebration. We did it! We stopped SB 999 in committee. It is done for now, but in the next year, the California Cosmetology Board will be reviewed. ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY Sue Cabral-Ebert Dr. Kari Williams