SB1363 - Barbering and cosmetology.

Amended IN Assembly August 17, 2026 Amended IN Assembly July 01, 2026 Amended IN Senate April 29, 2026 Amended IN Senate April 15, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1363 Introduced by Senator Wahab February 20, 2026 An act to amend Sections 7303, 7317, 7321, 7332, 7333, 7334, 7347, 7348, 7362, 7362.1, 7362.2, 7362.3, and 7407.1 of, and to add Sections 7315.5, 7332.1, 7332.2, 7334.1, 7334.2, and 7334.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1363, as amended, Wahab. Barbering and cosmetology. (1) Existing law, the Barbering and Cosmetology Act, establishes the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology until January 1, 2027, to license and regulate barbering, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, hairstyling, and manicuring. Existing law requires a person, firm, or corporation operating an establishment where licensed activity occurs to obtain a license from the board for that establishment. Existing law requires an establishment to at all times be in the charge of a person licensed pursuant to the act, except an apprentice. This bill would extend the provisions relating to the establishment of the board to January 1, 2031. The bill would also require a partnership or limited liability company that desires to operate an establishment where licensed activity occurs to apply to obtain a license for that establishment. For any corporation or limited liability company operating such an establishment, the bill would require the organization to be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State, and would provide for the suspension of any license from the board for a corporation or limited liability company that is not in good standing with the Secretary of State. The bill would require the board to license any federally recognized tribe, as defined, that applies for licensure and is otherwise compliant with the requirements of a licensee, and would exempt a federally recognized tribe from requirements relating to registration and good standing with the Secretary of State. The bill would also require an establishment to be in the charge of a person licensed pursuant to the act as a barber, cosmetologist, electrologist, esthetician, hairstylist, manicurist, or establishment at all times during which barbering, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, hairstyling services, or manicuring are being performed in the establishment. (2) Existing law makes it a crime for a person, firm, or corporation to engage in specified regulated activity without a valid unexpired license issued by the board. This bill would expand this provision to include partnerships and limited liability companies engaged in regulated activity. By expanding the operation of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law requires the board to admit to examination for a license as a cosmetologist any person who satisfies specified application requirements, including completion of a course in cosmetology from a school approved by the board. This bill would also require the applicant to provide official transcripts as evidence of completion of that course. (3) (4) Existing law provides for licensed apprenticeships to engage in learning or acquiring a knowledge of barbering, cosmetology, skin care, nail care, or electrology in a licensed establishment under the supervision of a licensee approved by the board. Existing law requires an apprenticeship training program to be conducted in compliance with the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act of 1939 according to apprenticeship standards approved by the Administrator of Apprenticeship. This bill would instead require the training program to be conducted in compliance with the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act of 1939 according to apprenticeship standards approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. The bill would require an apprenticeship program sponsor, as defined, to obtain approval from the board to administer an apprenticeship program in barbering, cosmetology, or electrology. The bill would require an applicant seeking approval from the board to submit an application and fee and to comply with specified requirements, including submitting a copy of the agreement between the apprenticeship program sponsor and a local educational agency to the board. This bill, among other requirements, would require an apprenticeship program sponsor to first be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. The bill would authorize the board to revoke, suspend, or deny approval of an apprenticeship program sponsor for specified acts, including unprofessional conduct. The bill would prohibit an apprenticeship training program from charging fees for an individual to participate in an apprenticeship program other than the actual cost of textbooks and minimum equipment. This bill would authorize the board to approve a person licensed as a barber, cosmetologist, or electrologist to provide on-the-job training to an apprentice who agrees to specified requirements, including being present at all times that the apprentice is providing services. The bill would also authorize the board to approve an establishment to employ a person licensed as a barber, cosmetologist, or electrologist to provide on-the-job training to an apprentice if the establishment agrees to satisfy specified conditions, including paying the apprentice an hourly wage in accordance with the apprenticeship agreement. The bill would require the establishment and the trainer to certify that they have no outstanding fines and no pending or past disciplinary actions. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require that an apprentice submit to the board a copy of the apprentice agreement entered into between the approved program sponsor and the apprentice, and would require the apprentice to be employed by the owner of a licensed establishment and registered as an apprentice with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. The bill would make the failure to comply with the laws relating to apprenticeships by a trainer, establishment owner, or apprenticeship sponsor grounds for disciplinary action, citation and fines, and prohibition from hiring future apprentices. (5) Existing law provides for the approval of schools by the board and requires the board to determine by regulation the required subjects of instruction to be completed in all approved courses provided by board-approved schools. Existing law requires, among other things, a board-approved school in cosmetology, barbering, or electrology to have a minimum number of bona fide, full-time students of the proposed school, as specified. This bill would require a school in cosmetology, barbering, or electrology to be approved by the board before operating. The bill would also eliminate the requirements that a school in cosmetology, barbering, or electrology have a specified minimum number of bona fide, full-time students. (6) Existing law authorizes the board to assess administrative fines for a violation of the act or a violation of any rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to the act. Existing law requires the board to establish by regulation a board-offered remedial education program, in lieu of a first offense of a health and safety violation, and authorizes the board to impose a fee to cover the reasonable regulatory cost of administering the program. This bill would require the board to require the completion of the course within a specified period of time established by regulation. The bill would require the board to impose the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed for the violation if the course is not completed within the required time period. (4) (7) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 7303 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 7303. (a) Notwithstanding Article 8 (commencing with Section 9148) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, there is in the Department of Consumer Affairs the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in which the administration of this chapter is vested. (b) (1) The board shall consist of 13 members. Seven members shall be public members, and six members shall represent the professions. (2) The Governor shall appoint five of the public members and the six professional members. The six professional members shall be comprised as follows: (A) A cosmetologist. (B) A barber. (C) An esthetician. (D) An electrologist. (E) A manicurist. (F) An establishment owner. (3) The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint one public member. (4) Members of the board shall be appointed for a term of four years, except that of the members appointed by the Governor, two of the public members and two of the professions members shall be appointed for an initial term of two years. No board member may serve longer than two consecutive terms. (5) Each member of the board shall receive a per diem pursuant to Section 103. (c) The board may appoint an executive officer who is exempt from civil service. The executive officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in the executive officer by this chapter. The appointment of the executive officer is subject to the approval of the director. In the event that a newly authorized board replaces an existing or previous bureau, the director may appoint an interim executive officer for the board who shall serve temporarily until the new board appoints a permanent executive officer. (d) The executive officer shall provide examiners, inspectors, and other personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed. Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of this section renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. SEC. 2. Section 7315.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read: 7315.5. (a) As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) “Federally recognized tribe” means a tribe located in this state and included on the list published in the Federal Register pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 5131) and includes an entity controlled by and established for the benefit of one or more tribes. (2) “Participating tribe” means a federally recognized tribe that formally applies for licensure from the board pursuant to subdivision (b). (b) The board shall license a federally recognized tribe that applies for licensure and is otherwise compliant with this chapter for the purpose of engaging in a business regulated by this chapter. (c) Nothing in this chapter is intended to infringe upon or diminish the existing rights, privileges, and immunities of federally recognized tribes as set forth in federal, state, or tribal law, or the jurisdiction of those participating tribes. (d) Nothing in this chapter, whether express or implied, shall confer upon the board or director any rights or authority to regulate any activity within the jurisdiction of a participating tribe. (e) Any requirement to register with the Secretary of State, maintain good standing with the Secretary of State, provide a corporate number issued by the Secretary of State, or any other associated requirement shall not apply to a participating tribe. SEC. 3. Section 7317 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 7317. Except as provided in this article, it is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation to engage in barbering, cosmetology, or electrolysis for compensation without a valid, unexpired license issued by the board, unless the person is participating in an externship program from an approved school, or in an establishment or mobile unit other than one licensed by the board, or conduct or operate an establishment, or any other place of business in which barbering, cosmetology, or electrolysis is practiced unless licensed under this chapter. Persons licensed under this chapter shall limit their practice and services rendered to the public to only those areas for which they are licensed. Any violation of this section is subject to an administrative fine and may be subject to a misdemeanor. SEC. 4. Section 7321 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 7321. The board shall admit to examination for a license as a cosmetologist to practice cosmetology any person who has made application to the board in proper form, paid the fee required by this chapter, and is qualified as follows: (a) Is not less than 17 years of age. (b) Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent. (c) Is not subject to denial pursuant to Section 480. (d) Has done any of the following: (1) Completed a course in cosmetology from a school approved by the board. board and provided evidence of completion by providing official transcripts. (2) Practiced cosmetology as defined in this chapter outside of this state for a period of time equivalent to the study and training of a qualified person who has completed a course in cosmetology from a school the curriculum of which complied with requirements adopted by the board. Each three months of practice shall be deemed the equivalent of 100 hours of training for qualification under paragraph (1) of this subdivision. (3) Holds a license as a barber in this state and has completed a cosmetology crossover course in a school approved by the board. (4) Completed a barbering course in a school approved by the board and has completed a cosmetology crossover course in a school approved by the board. (5) Completed the apprenticeship program in cosmetology specified in Article 4 (commencing with Section 7332). SEC. 4. SEC. 5. Section 7332 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 7332. (a) An apprentice is any person who is employed by the owner of a licensed establishment and is licensed by the board to engage in learning or acquiring a knowledge of barbering, cosmetology, skin care, nail care, or electrology in a licensed establishment under the supervision of a licensee approved by the board and is registered as an apprentice with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (b) For purposes of this section, “under the supervis [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]