What's happening
This bill establishes licensing requirements, regulations, and training standards for laser hair removal technicians in New York State.
Why it matters
Establishes clear safety and training standards for laser hair removal. , addressing concerns about unregulated procedures that could lead to injuries or inconsistent care. This means consumers can expect a baseline level of competency and professionalism from technicians.
Requires direct medical supervision and physician involvement. for non-medical facilities, ensuring that a consulting physician is available for emergencies and annual audits. This adds an extra layer of oversight and protection for clients undergoing laser hair removal.
Creates a formal licensing pathway and ongoing certification requirements. , including state-approved curricula, practical training, and national certification. This elevates the status of laser hair removal technicians and may reduce barriers for qualified estheticians already working in the field.
Mandates minimum liability insurance and clear penalties for unlicensed practice. , potentially reducing risks for both consumers and businesses by ensuring that providers are accountable and financially prepared for mishaps.
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Who cares
Headline styles
License Laser Hair Removal Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Amended on third reading 2834a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.193
- Referred to consumer protection
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to economic development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Advanced to third reading
Show 3 earlier actions
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.869
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
License Laser Hair Removal Techs
In Assembly Committee · Economic Development · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2834--A Cal. No. 193
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SAVINO, PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection -- recommitted to the Committee on Consumer Protection in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to licensing of laser hair removal technicians
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 400 of the general business law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 12 and 13 to read as follows:
12. The practice of "laser hair removal" means the use of a laser or pulsed light device in a hair removal procedure that does not remove the epidermis.
13. "Laser hair removal technician" means a person licensed by the secretary who practices laser hair removal as defined in subdivision twelve of this section.
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 401 of the general business law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2015 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 341 of the laws of 1998, are amended to read as follows:
1. No person shall engage in the practice of nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal, as defined in section four hundred of this article, without having received a license to engage in such practice in the manner prescribed in this article. No person shall act as a trainee or perform any service as such unless he or she has obtained a certificate of registration pursuant to this article.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03811-11-0
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3. A person licensed by any other state or country to practice nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal shall be allowed to practice in New York state for three months or less within any calendar year for the purpose of giving to, or receiving from, persons who are licensed under this article training in current styles, techniques or materials, provided however, that no such unlicensed person may provide services to the public for any fee, or other compensation, whether direct or indirect.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 403 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be established within the department an advisory committee which shall consist of [nine] ten members broadly representative of the appearance enhancement industry; including one person engaged in the practice of either nail specialty or waxing; two persons engaged in natural hair styling; one of whom shall be knowledgeable in the practice of styling techniques which place tension on the hair roots, and one of whom shall ensure strict adherence to quality services for all clients of all hair types, including, but not limited to, curl pattern, hair strand thickness, and volume of hair; one person engaged in esthetics; one person engaged in laser hair removal; two persons engaged in cosmetology; two persons engaged in training of persons for such practices and one person licensed as a dermatologist. The secretary shall appoint such persons to serve on the advisory committee, provided, that two shall be appointed by the secretary on the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and two shall be appointed by the secretary on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly. Each member of the committee shall be appointed for terms of two years. Any member may be reappointed for additional terms. The secretary shall designate from among the members of the committee a chairperson who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.
§ 4. Section 404 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
§ 404. Rules and regulations. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations which establish standards for practice and operation by licensees and trainees under this article in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public including licensees and trainees when they are working within such establishments. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the sanitary conditions and procedures required to be maintained, a minimum standard of training appropriate to the duties of nail specialists, trainees, waxers, natural hair stylists, estheticians, [and], cosmetologists, and laser hair removal technicians and the provision of service by nail specialists, trainees, waxers, natural hair stylists, estheticians [or], cosmetologists or laser hair removal technicians at remote locations other than the licensee's home provided that such practitioner holds an appearance enhancement business license to operate at a fixed location or is employed by the holder of an appearance enhancement business license. Regulations setting forth the educational requirements for nail specialists and trainees shall include education in the area of causes of infection and bacteriology. Regulations related to the practice and operation of licensed laser hair removal technicians shall include the standards set forth in section four hundred four-d of this article. In promulgating such rules and regulations the secretary shall consult with the state education department, the advisory committee established pursuant to this article, any other state agencies and private industry
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representatives as may be appropriate in determining minimum training requirements.
§ 5. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 404-d to read as follows:
§ 404-d. Laser hair removal rules and regulations. 1. (a) The secretary shall, in consultation with the appearance enhancement advisory committee provided for in section four hundred three of this article, promulgate rules and regulations which establish standards for the practice and operation of licensed laser hair removal technicians in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public including licensees and trainees when they are working in such establishments. Such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with section four hundred four of this article and shall include, but not be limited to: the identification of a state approved curriculum for licensees; the implementation of a registration fee for laser hair removal establishments; a minimum age requirement for laser hair removal technicians; the minimum number of hours of training a trainee must receive from a state approved curriculum; training requirements specifying the minimum number of procedures, specific to each part of the body, to be performed on volunteers; and continued certification by a nationally accredited organization acceptable to the department.
(b) The department may, at its discretion, waive training and curriculum requirements for currently employed licensed estheticians performing laser hair removal provided that the licensed esthetician satisfactorily completes the competency examination approved by the department.
(c) The secretary shall require establishments providing laser hair removal to maintain a maintenance of a minimum of one million dollars in liability insurance.
2. The practice of laser hair removal shall only be performed by a person licensed to practice medicine or by a licensed laser hair removal technician under the direction and supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine.
3. Every facility that is not a medical practice shall be required to have a consulting physician who is familiar with the use of lasers for hair removal. The consulting physician shall conduct an annual audit of policies and procedures and shall be available throughout the year to see a laser hair removal client in case of injury.
§ 6. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 406 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 341 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
a. Any person intending to practice nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal as defined in this article, or to own or operate an appearance enhancement business, shall first make application to the secretary for a license therefor.
§ 7. Subdivision 2 of section 406 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 341 of the laws of 1998 and paragraph c as amended by section 3 of part D of chapter 328 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
2. a. Any person seventeen years of age or older may apply to the secretary for a license to practice nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics or cosmetology.
b. Each such application shall also be accompanied by satisfactory evidence of having taken and passed the appropriate examination or examinations offered by the secretary pursuant to this article for the license sought and evidence of the successful completion of an approved
S. 2834--A 4
course of study in nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal in a school duly licensed pursuant to the education law.
c. Any applicant for a license to practice nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal may submit satisfactory evidence of licensure to practice an equivalent occupation issued by any other state, territory, protectorate or dependency of the United States or any other country in lieu of the evidence of schooling and examination required by this subdivision, provided that such license was granted in compliance with standards which were, in the judgment of the secretary, not lower than those of this state and provided that such state, territory, protectorate, dependency, or country extends similar reciprocity to the licensees of this state, or the applicant practiced an equivalent occupation in such state, territory, protectorate, dependency or country for a minimum of five years, or the applicant is a member of the household of a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves and was a member of such household before such member relocated to the state.
d. Notwithstanding the educational requirements of this section and the testing requirements of this section, an applicant who otherwise has met the licensing requirements of this article for a nail specialist, waxer, natural hair stylist, esthetician [or], cosmetologist or laser hair removal technician who shall provide satisfactory evidence he or she has been actively and continuously engaged in the practice of nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal for at least one year prior to the effective date of this article, may be issued a license for nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal pursuant to this article. Notwithstanding the educational and testing requirements of this section, a person licensed to practice barbering under article twenty-eight of this chapter who otherwise has met the licensing requirements of this article may be issued a license to practice natural hairstyling. Other than applicants licensed under article twenty-eight of this chapter, those persons who apply after a twelve month period from the effective date of this article will be required to provide evidence of training and to take the examination or examinations as required for other licenses pursuant to this article.
e. Upon acceptance by the secretary of a proper application for an operator's license to practice nail [speciality] specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal, the secretary may issue a temporary operator's license which shall expire six months from issuance. Upon good cause shown, the secretary may renew a temporary operator's license for one additional six-month period upon filing the appropriate application and fee.
§ 8. Subdivision 1 of section 407 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 255 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. The examinations for the license to practice natural hair styling, esthetics, nail specialty [and], cosmetology and laser hair removal shall be practical and written. The examinations for the license to practice waxing shall be limited to a written examination only. The secretary shall determine reasonable standards of performance for each license and shall evaluate the prospective applicants and applicants on the basis of such standards. The objectives of the examinations shall be to insure that prospective applicants and applicants have sufficient basic skills to safeguard the health and safety of the public and to
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insure that prospective applicants and applicants have attained adequate levels of skill to competently engage in the activities authorized by the license.
§ 9. Subdivision 1 of section 409 of the general business law, as amended by section 2 of part Y of chapter 60 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
1. The non-refundable fee for an application for a license to engage in the practice of nail specialty, waxing, natural hair styling, esthetics [or], cosmetology or laser hair removal, shall be forty dollars initially and for each renewal thereof the fee shall be forty dollars; the fee for a temporary license and each renewal shall be ten dollars.
§ 10. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 410 of the general business law, as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to licensing of laser hair removal technicians
Purpose
To license and regulate laser hair removal technicians to ensure the health, safety and welfare of laser hair removal consumers, and for technicians and trainees while working in the establishment.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 400 of the general business law by adding defi- nitions for the practice of laser hair removal and laser hair removal technicians.
Read the full memo (914 words)
Section 2 amends subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 401 of the general business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices which require a license under article 27 of the general business law.
Section 3 amends subdivision 1 of section 403 of the general business law by changing the number of members on the appearance enhancement advisory committee from nine to ten and adding one person engaged in laser hair removal to the committee.
Section 4 amends section 404 of the general business law to add laser hair removal technicians to the list of licensees for whom the
Secretary of State may promulgate rules and regulations.
Section 5 adds a new section 404-d to the general business law which requires the Secretary of State to establish rules and regulations for the practice and operation of licensed hair removal technicians. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to: identifica- tion of a state approved curriculum for licensees; the implementation of a registration fee for laser hair removal establishments; a minimum age requirement for laser hair removal technicians; the minimum number of hours of training a trainee must receive from a state approved curric- ulum; training requirements specifying the minimum number of procedures, specific to each part of the body, to be perfolitied on volunteers; and continued certification by a nationally accredited organization accepta- ble to the department.
Sections 6 and 7 amend subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 406 of the gener- al business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices which require submission of a license application to the
Secretary of State.
Section 8 amends subdivision 1 of section 407 of the general business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices requiring an examination for licensure.
Section 9 amends subdivision 1 of section 409 of the general business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices requiring a fee for licensure.
Section 10 amends subdivision 2 of section 410 of the general business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices that may be penalized for unlicensed activity.
Section 11 amends subdivision 1 of section 412 of the general business law by adding laser hair removal to the list of practices against whom civil penalties may be imposed for violations of this article.
Section 12 provides the effective date.
Justification
Given growing consumer demand for removing unwanted body hair and the lack of any applicable state law or regulation that addresses the safe use of lasers for this purpose outside of physician offices, the need for this legislation is compelling. New Yorkers who seek these cosmetic services should be protected. It is an important public safety issue.
Laser hair removal is a non-ablative procedure meaning that it does not affect skin layers deeper than the outer layer (epidermis). Removing unwanted body hair by using a laser/pulsed light device is not a medical procedure. These services are optional, completely voluntary and consum- er-initiated based on a desire to enhance personal appearance, whereas the practice of medicine involves diagnosing and treating human diseases, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition. Although laser hair removal is a service that is frequently offered in medical prac- tices such as dermatology or plastic surgery, there is no reason to limit hair removal to medical practitioners. However, it is important to require appropriate training and guarantee the competence of non-medical personnel who use lasers for hair removal.
While laser hair removal can be performed safely by non-medical person- nel, is essential that laser hair removal practitioners fully understand and are competency-tested on laser technology fundamentals, including equipment calibration, maintenance, and safety standards. It is under- stood that such practitioners would also meet all the requirements in current regulations for licensed estheticians.
It is important to note that other states increasingly rely upon nationally accredited organizations to test practitioner competence and guarantee the safety of consumers wishing to avail themselves of laser hair removal services. The Society for Clinical and Hair Removal offers a Certified Laser Hair Removal Professional examination and certif- ication. In fact, this organization requires continuing education in order to maintain certification.
The appropriate oversight resides in appearance enhancement licenses that are issued by the NYS Department of State upon satisfactory completion of training and education governed by the NYS Education Department's Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision.
Due to the state's lack of oversight, the number of non-physician laser hair removal practitioners offering their services in New York today is not known. This legislation and the ensuing regulations will provide administrative and disciplinary oversight essential for the health, safety and welfare for laser hair removal consumers, trained techni- cians, trainees, and establishments.
Legislative history
A.7977A in 2017 and 2018, referred to economic development in 2017 and 2018. Same as S.6088A in 2017 and 2018, referred to rules in 2017 and consumer protection in 2018.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.