Today, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 326, authored by Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield).
This bill authorizes the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) to promote awareness among salon professionals on the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder abuse.
“I am very pleased that Governor Brown has supported this important step forward in preventing
domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Assemblymember Salas. “Far too often, cases of
abuse go unreported. These professionals serve a unique role in connecting victims with the help
and assistance they need to move out of an abusive relationship.”
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the
United States have experienced rape or physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
That means on average, 24 people per minute are victims of these crimes—totaling 12 million
people over the course of one year. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all
violent crime.
AB 326 directs the BBC’s Health and Safety Advisory Committee to adopt courses to promote
abuse prevention awareness as part of the salon professional licensing process. The trust that
often exists between professional hairstylists and their clients creates an opportunity to connect
victims of abuse with local serve agencies and resources.
The BBC licenses and regulates 550,000 licensees including barbers, cosmetologists,
estheticians, manicurists, salon establishments, and mobile units. Trained licensees are not
required by the bill to act on any information attained.
The training is required to be in place by July 1, 2019.
-courtesy Rudy Salas
