STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Haider, Lopez, Speight, McCoy, Assemblyman Scharfenberger and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson
SYNOPSIS
Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning examinations for professional licenses issued by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, and amending P.L.1984, c.205.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 27 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-27) is amended to read as follows:
27. All examinations conducted by the board pursuant to [this act] P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.), including any examination required of a practicing licensee, shall consist of practical and written portions and [may] shall be administered in English, with the option to take each portion of the examination in one of the four other languages most commonly spoken in the State, unless the languages are determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to not be in compliance with P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), in which case the division shall consult with the board concerning the languages in which the examinations shall be provided, and in the case of practicing licensees, [in Spanish or] with the aid of a translator, if the board, in its discretion and in accordance with P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), deems that aid to be warranted. If the board is deemed in compliance with New Jersey law, the Division of Consumers Affairs shall consult the American Community Survey issued by the United States Census Bureau, or a comparable data set, to determine the four other languages most commonly spoken in the State and post on its Internet website these languages in which the practical and written examination are to be offered. The division shall, at least every five years, verify the four languages, other than English, most commonly spoken in the State.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.313, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 12th month next after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill modifies current law by requiring the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to offer its practical and written examinations in English, with the option for an individual to take each portion of the examination in one of the four other most commonly spoken languages in the State and, in the case of practicing licensees, allow the use of a translator. Existing law only requires the board to provide the examinations in English, with the option of Spanish in the case of practicing licensees (who may also be approved by the board for the use of a translator). In addition, the bill ensures that languages for examinations required by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling are in compliance, as determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, with N.J.S.A.52:14-40 et seq. The Division of Consumers Affairs is to consult the American Community Survey issued by the United States Census Bureau, or other comparable data set, to determine the four most commonly spoken languages and then post on its Internet website the languages in which the practical and written examination will be offered. Finally, the division is to verify, at least every five years, the four most commonly spoken languages, other than English, in New Jersey.