SB 1363: Barbering and cosmetology.
<p>The bill amends sections of California's Business and Professions Code related to barbering and cosmetology, extending the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology until January 1, 2031. It requires partnerships and limited liability companies operating establishments for licensed activities to obtain a license from the board. For corporations or LLCs, it mandates registration with the Secretary of State and good standing; otherwise, their licenses may be suspended.</p> <p>The bill also allows federally recognized tribes to apply for licensure under certain conditions and exempts them from state registration requirements. It specifies that establishments must always have a licensed professional in charge during regulated activities.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill expands criminal penalties to include partnerships and LLCs engaging in regulated activities without proper licensing, ther…
| Sep. 14, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 233, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 14, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.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: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: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.SEC. 6.
Section 7332.1 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:7332.1.
(a) Any joint apprenticeship committee, unilateral management committee, or labor apprenticeship committee, or an individual employer that wants to administer an apprenticeship in barbering, cosmetology, or electrology shall be known as an apprenticeship program sponsor.SEC. 7.
Section 7332.2 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:7332.2.
(a) An apprentice program sponsor shall be approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards before being approved by the board.SEC. 8.
Section 7333 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7333.
(a) The apprentice training program shall be conducted in compliance with the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act of 1939 (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 of the Labor Code), according to apprenticeship standards approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. A copy of the act shall be maintained on file with the board.SEC. 9.
Section 7334 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7334.
(a) The board may license as an apprentice in barbering, cosmetology, skin care, or nail care any person who has made application to the board upon the proper form, has paid the fee required by this chapter, and who is qualified as follows:SEC. 10.
Section 7334.1 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:7334.1.
(a) The board may approve a person licensed as a barber, cosmetologist, or electrologist to provide on-the-job training to an apprentice who agrees to do all of the following:SEC. 11.
Section 7334.2 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:7334.2.
(a) The board may approve an establishment to employ a person licensed as a barber, cosmetologist, or electrologist to provide on-the-job training to an apprentice who agrees to ensure all of the following:SEC. 12.
Section 7334.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:7334.5.
Failure to comply with this chapter and all laws and regulations applicable to apprenticeships by the trainer, establishment owner, or apprenticeship program sponsor is grounds for disciplinary action, citation and fines, and prohibition from hiring future apprentices.SEC. 13.
Section 7347 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7347.
(a) Any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation desiring to operate an establishment shall make an application to the board for a license accompanied by the fee prescribed by this chapter. The application shall be required whether the person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation is operating a new establishment or obtaining ownership of an existing establishment. The application shall include a signed acknowledgment that the applicant understands that establishments are responsible for compliance with any applicable labor laws of the state and that the applicant understands the informational materials on basic labor laws, as specified in Section 7314.3, the applicant is provided by the board with the application. Every electronic application to renew a license shall include a signed acknowledgment that the renewal applicant understands that establishments are responsible for compliance with any applicable labor laws of the state and that the applicant understands the informational materials on basic labor laws, as specified in Section 7314.3, that the renewal applicant is provided by the board with the renewal application. If the applicant is obtaining ownership of an existing establishment, the board may establish the fee in an amount less than the fee prescribed by this chapter. The applicant, if an individual, or each officer, director, and partner, if the applicant is other than an individual, shall not have committed acts or crimes which are grounds for denial of licensure in effect at the time the new application is submitted pursuant to Section 480. A license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize the operation of the establishment only at the location for which the license is issued. Operation of the establishment at any other location shall be unlawful unless a license for the new location has been obtained upon compliance with this section, applicable to the issuance of a license in the first instance.SEC. 14.
Section 7348 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7348.
An establishment shall be in the charge of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter 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.SEC. 15.
Section 7362 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7362.
A school of cosmetology, barbering, or electrology shall not operate without first being approved by the board.SEC. 16.
Section 7362.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7362.1.
A school of cosmetology approved by the board shall also meet all of the following:SEC. 17.
Section 7362.2 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7362.2.
A school of barbering approved by the board shall also do all of the following:SEC. 18.
Section 7362.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7362.3.
A school of electrology approved by the board shall also do all of the following:SEC. 19.
Section 7407.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:7407.1.
(a) The board shall determine by regulation when a fine shall be assessed to both the holder of the establishment license and the individual licensee for the same violation. The board shall also determine by regulation when a fine shall be assessed to only the holder of the establishment license or to only an individual licensee for the same violation. In making these determinations, the board shall consider the egregiousness of the violation of the health and safety regulations and whether the violation is a repeated violation by licensees within the same establishment.SEC. 20.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.