ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4331

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

      The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4331.

      As amended, this bill updates current law to establish licensure requirements for limited cosmetic retail service licenses to be issued to cosmetic retail service establishments.  The license will apply to the retail premises and allow a licensed skin care specialist to perform certain skin care services, defined in the bill as cosmetic retail services, at a qualifying establishment.  Specifically, a qualifying retail establishment that obtains a license for its premises under the bill, would be permitted to offer the following skin care services in exchange for compensation at the establishment:

      (1)  applying cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams or makeup to the hair, scalp, face or neck;

      (2)  massaging, cleansing or stimulating the face, neck or upper part of the body, with or without cosmetic preparations, either by hand, mechanical or electrical appliances;

      (3)  removing superfluous hair from the face, neck, arms, legs or abdomen by the use of depilatories, waxing or tweezers.

     At present, a cosmetics retailer is prohibited from offering any paid services unless it separates from the floor space of a retail facility at least 350 square feet of space for two customer chairs and an additional 50 square feet of space for each additional chair.  These are the same requirements for full service salons.  Under the bill, a cosmetic retail service establishment will be allowed to consider the entire square footage of the store for the purpose of licensure and will be allowed one chair for every 750 square feet of retail space.  The issuance of a limited cosmetic retail service license to a cosmetic retail service establishment will not change the pre-existing use and occupancy classification of the establishment under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

      The beauty and cosmetics industry employs a large number of New Jersey residents and is critical to the success of retail facilities within the State, such as shopping malls and retail centers.  This bill will create new jobs for persons already licensed as skincare specialists, allow those graduating from an approved cosmetology school to have more options for employment, and grow the retail-based economy of New Jersey.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to add language establishing that the issuance of a limited cosmetic retail service license will not change a pre-existing use and occupancy classification of an establishment under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.