SECTION 1. (a) As used in this act, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-

“Board”, board of registration of cosmetology and barbering, established in section 42 of chapter 13 of the General laws,

“Licensed barber shops”, barber shops which have received a license from the commonwealth, having met existing licensure criteria.

“Pilot barber schools”, a school which will be allowed in an established licensed small barber shop during non-commercial hours. The pilot school license shall allow the barber shop to advertise the availability of a barber school on the premises, shall be granted to allow adjustments and reductions to class enrollment and other size restrictions. Adjustments shall be based on the number of chairs and sinks available in the licensed pilot barber shop classroom.

“Pilot in-shop barber instructor license eligibility”, a barber instructor having a barber license or assistant barber license and 2 years of full-time experience as a barber or assistant barber instructor in order to be eligible for an instructor license.

(b) The board of registration of cosmetology and barbering, pursuant to section 42 of chapter 13 of the General laws, shall establish a 4 year pilot program to allow for in-shop barber instruction. The pilot program shall:

(i) enlist up to 5 licensed barbers and their barber shops in geographically diverse areas in the commonwealth to participate;

(ii) develop eligibility criteria for a pilot in-shop barber school license, an application and a pilot program instructor license;

(iii) assess the performance of students in the pilot program and determine if the pilot program is successful in increasing the number of licensed barbers across the commonwealth;

(iv) comply with the commonwealth’s 1,000 hour guidelines, while occurring in an alternative setting; and

(v) allow training to occur in a licensed barber shop during the barber shop’s closed hours and delivered by an experienced and licensed barber, who will access a special pilot barber instructor license as part of this program.

(c) In implementing the pilot program, the board shall:

(i) ensure that once each barber is licensed as a pilot in-shop instructor, they have access to all existing training materials and exam questions, the list of current workbooks used to prepare students for the written exam and a breakdown of hours needed for each section of the 1,000 hour training program currently used to meet the commonwealth’s existing barbering license process;

(ii) ensure that the pilot program instruction takes place in a traditional licensed barber shop during its closed hours;

(iii) create a path to instructor licensing for those meeting the experience requirements, independent from having worked in or having recently been hired by, a current barber school;

(iv) establish criteria for pilot program participation which incorporates barber interest, the ability to meet the experience criteria for an instructor’s license, and ability to comply with guidelines needed for an in-shop barber school;

(v) post the pilot program’s guidelines and the curriculum syllabus online to make sure that all prospective participants can review this information before applying to participate;

(vi) review syllabi submitted by the licensed in-shop barber instructor for approval to make sure it meets mandatory standards;

(vii) provide a physical inspection of the specific space prior to the commencement of instruction;

(viii) assure that all rules regarding haircuts, including safety, oversight and pricing will remain the same as outlined for traditional barber schools in the commonwealth; and

(ix) provide students who complete the 1,000 hour program the students with an opportunity to take the state board barber licensing exam and upon passing, would become licensed as if they had completed training and education at a full size barber training institution.

(d) The board may:

(i) provide and facilitate an online opportunity for all participating pilot barber shop instructors to meet regularly to discuss the progress and to support the creation of standards for a potential long term permanent in-shop training program.

(ii) request regular written status reports from participating barber instructors in order to identify successes and challenges and to request agenda recommendations from the pilot barber instructors for discussion at the above mentioned online meetings; and

(iii) create an online peer support network for new barber instructors to discuss their individual program’s efficacy and student goal-tracking.

SECTION 2. (a) The board shall, no later than 1 year after the initiation of the pilot program, submit an annual report to the chairs of the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure detailing:

(i) the status of the pilot program;

(ii) its participation by students and instructors, number of students who successfully graduate and receive their barber licenses; and

(iii) the towns and cities in the commonwealth where pilot barber schools are located

(b) At the end of the 4 year pilot program, a report on the overall evaluation of the program shall be provided to the chairs of the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure. The report shall determine after 4 years:

(i) the feasibility of adopting this model as an optional and additional standardized pathway for delivering and receiving barbering instruction in the commonwealth; and

(ii) the success of this alternative method for training barbers as measured by: (1) the number of students enrolled and graduated and how this completion rate compares to traditional and existing barber instruction model; (2) the number of barber shops and pilot instructors recruited; (3) the geographic reach of the program in terms of instruction and subsequent practicing barbers; (4) the number of barbers licensed as a result of completing in-shop instruction, and (5) the impact of the online network of support for new barber instructors.

(c) A successful pilot shall result in the board recommending a permanent change in barber licensure, allowing in-shop instruction to a smaller number of students as an alternative training approach in the commonwealth.