The House Professional Licensure Committee has approved a bill sponsored by Representative Zach Mako aimed at addressing the shortage of barber instructors in Pennsylvania. The legislation is now set to move to the full House for consideration.
Representative Mako, who represents parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “This is the fourth legislative session that I have introduced a bill on this topic,” he stated. He highlighted the impact of the pandemic on barber shops and hair salons and pointed out that a continuing shortage of barber-teachers could lead to future issues, including the potential closure of barber schools and reduced training opportunities. “We need to make this change now, so that finding a barber in the future doesn’t become difficult,” he added.
The proposed bill includes several measures: lowering the age requirement for taking the barber-teacher examination from 23 to 18 years; reducing required training hours from 1,250 to 500; allowing individuals with both cosmetology and barber licenses to obtain a barber-teacher license upon completing necessary training and examinations; and granting licensure to out-of-state licensed barber-teachers if their licensing requirements are substantially similar to those in Pennsylvania.
The 183rd House District, represented by Mako, encompasses Lowhill and North Whitehall townships as well as Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also covers Allen, East Allen, Lehigh, Moore (part) townships, and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton, and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
For more information or media inquiries about this legislative effort, contact Tracy Polovick at tpolovick@pahousegop.com or call 717-260-6358.
