At the request of state Senator Anthony H. Williams (D-Phila./Delaware), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing this Wednesday in Philadelphia on the senator’s proposal to do away with the cosmetology school licensing requirement for natural hair braiders.
The hearing is set for this Wednesday, December 12 at 11 a.m. in their Versailles Ballroom of the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131.
The senate panel is expected to focus on the state’s 300-hour cosmetology training requirement that hair braiders must complete to obtain a Pennsylvania business license. Critics claim the training is costly, unnecessary and discourages interest in the profession.
The policy committee is chaired by Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton).
Those expected to testify include:
- Kate Roberts, Deputy Secretary, Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs;
- Ian J. Harlow, Subsecretario en funciones de Programas de Regulación, Comisario de la Oficina de Asuntos Profesionales y Ocupacionales;
- Nadia Hewka, abogada, Servicios Jurídicos Comunitarios de Filadelfia;
- Eric Edi, Doctor, Director de Operaciones, Coalición de Comunidades Inmigrantes Africanas y Caribeñas;
- Astu Balde, Maimouna Thiam, Aissatou Diop, Asttan Sacko, and Adidatou Macauley, hair braiders;
- Lisa Hopkins, antigua instructora de cosmetología, Distrito Escolar de Filadelfia y Mercy Vocational High School;
- Kimberly Nesmith, propietaria del salón, cosmetóloga;
- Pearl Baily-Anderson, propietaria del salón, tricóloga titulada; y
- Lee McGrath, Asesor Legislativo Principal, Instituto de Justicia
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