MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Currie

House Bill 314

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-7-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY AND BARBERING TO LICENSE AND REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF COSMETOLOGY AND THE PRACTICE OF BARBERING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-5-1, 73-5-45, 73-7-3 AND 73-7-63, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-7-13, 73-7-18 AND 73-7-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSING OF COSMETOLOGISTS, ESTHETICIANS AND MANICURISTS; TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM AGE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR ENGLISH FLUENCY, AND ALLOW FOR APPRENTICESHIP HOURS IN LIEU OF SCHOOLING HOURS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-5-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT COSMETOLOGISTS SEEKING A BARBERING LICENSE BE FLUENT IN ENGLISH; TO REPEAL SECTION 73-5-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE BOARD OF BARBER EXAMINERS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-92, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDED STANDARDS FOR STATE AGENCIES TO USE IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT AN AGENCY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY RECEIVE COMPENSATORY LEAVE, AND PROVIDE THAT AGENCIES MAY USE SUCH STANDARDS WHEN ADDRESSING THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHOULD RECEIVE COMPENSATORY LEAVE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 73-7-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-1.  (1)  There is * * *hereby continued and reconstituted a created the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, composed of * * *five (5) nine (9) members, eight (8) of which shall * * *to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate * * *, and whose term of office shall be four (4) years from the date of appointment except as otherwise provided herein.  However,.  The board shall consist of one (1) cosmetologist who is a salon owner, two (2) barbers, one (1) cosmetology or barber school owner, one (1) cosmetology or barber instructor, one (1) manicurist, one (1) esthetician, one (1) member of the public not related to cosmetology, barbering or related professions, and the State Health Officer or his or her designee.  * * *no more than Two (2) members shall be appointed from each Supreme Court district and two (2) members shall be appointed from the state at large.

     (2)  The initial term of office for the two (2) members appointed from the First Supreme Court District shall be two (2) years ending on June 30, 2025; the initial term of office for the two (2) members appointed from the Second Supreme Court District shall be three (3) years ending on June 30, 2026; the initial term of office for the two (2) members appointed from the Third Supreme Court District shall be four (4) years ending on June 30, 2027; and the initial term of office for the two (2) members appointed from the state at large shall be six (6) years ending on June 30, 2029.  After the expiration of the initial terms of offices, all later appointments shall be for terms of six (6) years from the expiration date of the previous term.  No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.  The initial appointments must be made before September 1, 2023.

     (2)  There shall be a president of the board and such other officers as deemed necessary by the board elected by and from its membership, provided that the member elected as president shall have at least one (1) year of experience on the board.  Any member appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a term to begin on or after July 1, * * *1997 2023, who was designated by the Governor to serve as president of the board, shall be fully qualified to serve on the board for a full term of office, but shall not serve as president of the board unless elected by the membership of the board as provided under this paragraph.

     (3)  To be eligible for appointment as a member of the * * *State Board of Cosmetology board, the person applying shall have been a citizen of this state for a minimum of five (5) years immediately prior to appointment.  Such person shall be at least thirty (30) years of age, possess a high school education or its equivalent, and shall have been * * *a licensed cosmetologist licensed by the board or either of its predecessor boards with not less than * * *ten (10) five (5) years' active practice in * * *cosmetology an occupation regulated by the board or either of its predecessor boards.  No * * *member of the board shall be connected in any way with any school wherein cosmetology is taught, nor shall any two (2) members of the board shall be graduates of the same school of cosmetology or barbering.  The public member shall not be required to be licensed by the board.

     (4)  * * *However, in the event of If there is a vacancy by death or resignation of any member of the board, the Governor shall, within thirty (30) days, appoint a person possessing all qualifications required to serve the remainder of the term.  Any member who shall not attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the board for reasons other than illness of such member shall be subject to removal by the Governor.  The president of the board shall notify the Governor in writing when any such member has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings.

     (5)  The salaries of all paid employees of the board shall be paid out of funds in the board's special fund in the State Treasury. Each member of the board, excepting the inspectors provided for herein, shall receive per diem as authorized by Section 25-3-69, and shall be reimbursed for such other expenses at the same rate and under the same conditions as other state employees as provided for in Section 25-3-41.

     (6)  The board shall give reasonable public notice of all board meetings not less than ten (10) days prior to such meetings.

     (7)  In addition to any powers conferred upon the board in other provisions of law, the board shall appoint an individual to serve as the executive director of the board.  The executive director shall possess the qualifications established by the board that are based on national best practices, and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board.  The executive director shall devote his or her full time to the proper administration of the board and the duties assigned to him or her by the board, and shall be paid a salary established by the board, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board.  Subject to the availability of funding, the executive director may employ such administrative staff as may be necessary to assist the executive director and board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 5, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972, and the duties and directives of the board.

     (8)  The State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering created in this section shall be the State Board of Cosmetology and the State Board of Barber Examiners.  Any reference to the State Board of Cosmetology or the State Board of Barber Examiners in Chapter 5 or Chapter 7, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972, or in any other provision of law, or any rule, regulation or document shall mean the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.

     SECTION 2.  Section 73-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-5-1.  * * *The State Board of Barber Examiners is continued and reconstituted as follows:  The Board of Barber Examiners shall consist of five (5) members, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one (1) member to be appointed from each of the congressional districts as existing on January 1, 1991.  Each member shall be a practical barber and a qualified elector of this state.  He shall have been engaged in the practice of barbering in the State of Mississippi for at least five (5) years immediately before the time of his appointment and shall be a person of good moral character.  From and after July 1, 1983, the appointments to the board shall be made in the manner hereinafter provided, and the present members of the State Board of Barber Examiners whose terms have not expired by July 1, 1983, shall continue to serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified.  The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, five (5) members from the congressional districts as follows:  The member from the First Congressional District shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years to commence on July 1, 1983; the member from the Second Congressional District shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years to commence on July 1, 1984; the member from the Third Congressional District shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years to commence on July 1, 1983; the member from the Fourth Congressional District shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years to commence on July 1, 1984; and the member from the Fifth Congressional District shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year to commence on July 1, 1983.  The members of the board as constituted on July 1, 2002, whose terms have not expired shall serve the balance of their terms, after which time the membership of the board shall be appointed as follows:  There shall be appointed one (1) member of the board from each of the four (4) Mississippi congressional districts as they currently exist, and one (1) from the state at large, and the Governor shall make appointments from the congressional district having the smallest number of board members until the membership includes one (1) member from each district as required.  From and after July 1, 2002, no member of the board who is connected in any way with any barbering school shall participate in the administration of examinations of barber applicants.  From and after July 1, 2004, no member of the board shall be connected in any way with any school in which barbering is taught.

All members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for terms of four (4) years each from the expiration date of the previous term, until their successors have been appointed and qualified.  No member of the board shall hold any elected office.  Appointments made to fill a vacancy of a term shall be made by the Governor within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs.

The Governor may remove any one or more members of the board for just cause.  Members appointed to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation or removal of any member or members shall serve only for the unexpired term of their predecessors.  Any member who does not attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the board for reasons other than illness of the member shall be subject to removal by the Governor.  The president of the board shall notify the Governor in writing when any such member has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings. The State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering created under Section 73-7-1 shall license and regulate the practice of barbering under this chapter.

     SECTION 3.  Section 73-5-45, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-5-45.  Sections 73-5-1 through 73-5-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, which * * *create the State Board of Barber Examiners and prescribe its duties and powers regulate the practice of barbering, shall stand repealed as of July 1, 2025.

     SECTION 4.  Section 73-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-3.  * * *The board shall be authorized to employ such clerical and stenographic assistance, bookkeepers, investigators and other agents as they may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and to fix their tenure of employment and compensation therefor.  The members of the board shall file a bond with the Secretary of State in the sum of not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) payable to the State of Mississippi for the faithful performance of their duties.  The bond shall be made by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, the premium of the bond to be paid out of any money in the board's special fund in the State Treasury.

     The office of the board shall be located in the greater metropolitan area of the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and in the event office space cannot be obtained in any state-owned building, the board is authorized to rent suitable office space and to pay therefor out of funds in the board's special fund.  The board shall employ inspectors as needed, not to exceed seven (7), who shall be full-time employees and whose salaries and duties shall be fixed by the board.

     The salaries of all paid employees of the board shall be paid out of the funds in the board's special fund.  The inspectors shall, in addition to their salaries, be reimbursed for such expenses as are allowed other state employees under the provisions of Section 25-3-41.  In addition to the paying of office rent, the board is authorized to purchase necessary office furniture and equipment, stationery, books, certificates and any other equipment necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

     SECTION 5.  Section 73-7-63, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-63.  Sections 73-7-1 through 73-7-37, which create the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and prescribe its duties and powers, shall stand repealedas of on July 1,2021 2024.

     SECTION 6.  Section 73-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-13.  (1)  The board shall admit to examination for a cosmetology license any person who has made application to the board in proper form, has paid the required fee, and who (a) is at least seventeen (17) years of age, (b) * * *can read, write and speak English, (c) has successfully completed no less than fifteen hundred (1500) hours over a period of no less than nine (9) months in a licensed school of cosmetology or in an apprenticeship program of three thousand (3,000) hours certified by the board, and ( * * *dc) has a * * *high school tenth (10th) grade education or its equivalent or has been successfully enrolled in a community college.

          (a)  The board may, in its discretion, issue to any student who has completed the prescribed hours in a licensed school and paid the required fee a temporary permit until such time as the next examination may be held, but such student shall be issued only one (1) temporary permit.  Application for an examination and license shall be accompanied by two (2) passport photographs of the applicant.  No temporary permit will be issued to an applicant from any other state to operate a beauty salon or school of cosmetology in this state unless in case of emergency.

          (b)  Applicants for the cosmetologist examination, after having satisfactorily passed the prescribed examination, shall be issued a cosmetology license which until June 30, 2001, shall be valid for one (1) year, and after July 1, 2001, shall be valid for two (2) years, and all those licenses shall be subject to renewal.

          (c)  Any barber who can read, write and speak English and has successfully completed no less than fifteen hundred (1500) hours in a licensed barber school, and who holds a current valid certificate of registration to practice barbering and who holds a current valid license, is eligible to take the cosmetology examination to secure a cosmetology license upon successfully completing five hundred (500) hours in a licensed school of cosmetology.  All fees for application, examination, registration and renewal thereof shall be the same as provided for cosmetologists.

     (2)  Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64.

     (3)  Any licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, or manicurist who is registered but not actively practicing in the State of Mississippi at the time of making application for renewal, may apply for registration on the "inactive" list.  Such "inactive" list shall be maintained by the board and shall set out the names and post office addresses of all persons registered but not actively practicing in this state, arranged alphabetically by name and also by the municipalities and states of their last-known professional or residential address.  Only the cosmetologists, estheticians and manicurists registered on the appropriate list as actively practicing in the State of Mississippi shall be authorized to practice those professions.  For the purpose of this section, any licensed cosmetologist, esthetician or manicurist  who has actively practiced his or her profession for at least three (3) months of the immediately preceding license renewal period shall be considered inactive practice.  No cosmetologist, esthetician, or manicurist shall be registered on the "inactive" list until the person has furnished a statement of intent to take such action to the board.  Any licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist or wigologist registered on the "inactive" list shall not be eligible for registration on the active list until either of the following conditions have been satisfied:

          (a)  Written application shall be submitted to the State Board of Cosmetology stating the reasons for such inactivity and setting forth such other information as the board may require on an individual basis and completion of the number of clock hours of continuing education as approved by the board; or

          (b)  Evidence to the satisfaction of the board shall be submitted that they have actively practiced their profession in good standing in another state and have not been guilty of conduct that would warrant suspension or revocation as provided by applicable law; and

          (c)  Payment of the fee for processing such inactive license shall be paid biennially in accordance to board rules.

     SECTION 7.  Section 73-7-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-18.  (1)  The board shall admit to examination for an esthetician's license any person who has made application to the board in proper form, has paid the required fee, and who:

          (a)  Is not less than * * *seventeen (17) sixteen (16) years of age;

 * * *  (b)  Can read, write and speak English;

          ( * * *cb)  Has a * * *high school tenth (10th) grade education or its equivalent or has successfully enrolled in a community college; and

          ( * * *dc)  Has successfully completed a course of training in esthetics of not less than six hundred (600) hours in an accredited school in which the practice of esthetics is taught, including not less than one hundred (100) hours of theory and five hundred (500) hours of skill practice, or in an apprenticeship program of one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours certified by the board.

 * * * Any licensed esthetician wishing to acquire a cosmetology license may apply the six hundred (600) hours of esthetics training toward the requirements for a cosmetology license.

     (2)  Every person who has completed not less than three hundred fifty (350) hours of training in esthetics approved by the board in this or any other state prior to July 1, 1987, shall be registered with the board within a period not exceeding six (6) months after July 1, 1987, and shall be granted an esthetician's license by the board if such person presents satisfactory evidence to the board that he or she has fulfilled all the requirements to be admitted to examination except the training hours requirement.

     (3)  Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64 * * *, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 8.  Section 73-7-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-7-21.  (1)  The board shall admit to examination for a manicurist's license any person who has made application to the board in proper form, has paid the required fee, and who:

          (a)  Is at least * * *seventeen (17) sixteen (16) years of age;

 * * *  (b)  Can read, write and speak English;

          ( * * *cb)  Has successfully completed no less than three hundred fifty (350) hours of practice and related theory in manicuring and pedicuring over a period of no less than nine (9) weeks in an accredited school of cosmetology in this or any other state or in an apprenticeship program of seven hundred (700) hours certified by the board; and

          ( * * *dc)  Has a * * *high school tenth (10th) grade education or its equivalent or has successfully enrolled in a community college.

     (2)  Licensed manicurists desiring to pursue additional hours to be eligible for a license as a cosmetologist may be credited with * * *the three hundred fifty (350) any hours acquired in studying and training to be a manicurist which may be applied to the number of hours required for a cosmetology license examination.

     (3)  The board shall adopt regulations governing the use of electric nail files for the purpose of filing false or natural nails.

     (4)  Each application or filing made under this section shall include the social security number(s) of the applicant in accordance with Section 93-11-64.

     SECTION 9.  Section 73-5-12, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     73-5-12.  Any cosmetologist who * * *can read, write and speak English and has successfully completed not less than fifteen hundred (1500) hours in an accredited school of cosmetology, and holds a valid, current license, shall be eligible to take the barber examination to secure a certificate of registration as a barber upon successfully completing six hundred (600) hours in a barber school approved by the Board of Barber Examiners.

     All fees for application, examination, registration and renewal thereof shall be the same as provided for in this chapter.

     SECTION 10.  Section 73-5-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provides for the officers and employees of the State Board of Barber Examiners, is repealed.

     SECTION 11.  Section 25-3-92, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     25-3-92.  (1)  (a)  When, in the opinion of the appointing authority, it is essential that a state employee work after normal working hours, the employee may receive credit for compensatory leave.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 37-13-89, when, in the opinion of the appointing authority, it is essential that a state employee work during an official state holiday, the employee shall receive credit for compensatory leave.

          (b)  The State Personnel Board shall develop recommended standards for state agencies to use in determining whether or not an agency's executive director may receive compensatory leave.  State agencies may use such standards when addressing the conditions under which an executive director should receive compensatory leave.

     (2)  State employees may be granted administrative leave with pay.  For the purposes of this section, "administrative leave" means discretionary leave with pay, other than personal leave or major medical leave.

          (a)  The appointing authority may grant administrative leave to any employee serving as a witness or juror or party litigant, as verified by the clerk of the court, in addition to any fees paid for such services, and such services or necessary appearance in any court shall not be counted as personal leave.

          (b)  The Governor or the appointing authority may grant administrative leave with pay to state employees on a local or statewide basis in the event of extreme weather conditions or in the event of a man-made, technological or natural disaster or emergency.  Any employee on a previously approved leave during the affected period shall be eligible for such administrative leave granted by the Governor or appointing authority, and shall not be charged for his previously approved leave during the affected period.

          (c)  The appointing authority may grant administrative leave with pay to any employee who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross who participates in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross in this state and in states contiguous to this state when the American Red Cross requests the employee's participation.  Administrative leave granted under this paragraph shall not exceed twenty (20) days in any twelve-month period.  An employee on leave under this paragraph shall not be deemed to be an employee of the state for purposes of workers' compensation or for purposes of claims against the state allowed under Chapter 46, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972.  As used in this paragraph, the term "disaster" includes disasters designated at Level II and above in American Red Cross national regulations and procedures.

     SECTION 12.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.