Update 4/15/11: Due to contradicting information available online, we went right to the source, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, regarding if salons and manicurists are included in HB 5005 or not. We heard back today and are thrilled to report that manicuring and nail salons will NOT be deregulated if HB 5005 is signed into law. Here's what a legislative assistant told us: "To answer your question about HB 5005, the bill did not deregulate or change statute for cosmetologists doing hair cutting, working with chemicals or nails. Hair Salons pertaining to those areas and Manicurists are not in the bill.  Manicurists were in the first draft of the bill, but were removed  at the first hearing of the bill." Yay!

Last week, the state of Florida’s House of Representatives passed a bill that could deregulate many of the state’s industries, including manicurists, nail salons, and several other types of beauty industry businesses. State representative Dorothy Hukill, who sponsored HB 5005, says, “Aggressive, unnecessary government regulation hurts businesses and raises costs for everyone. Small business owners and entrepreneurs are in a constant struggle with government red-tape that serves no purpose except to restrict our freedom and our economic growth” in a blog post.

While regulation does involve some red tape, I shudder to think of the alternative. If this bill becomes law, I’d be scared to get a manicure in Florida. As any reputable nail tech knows, proper sanitation, tools, and training are necessary to provide a safe nail service. I don’t think anyone wants a repeat of the bacterial outbreaks that occurred in Watsonville, Calif. and San Jose, Calif., but I’m scared that may be in Florida’s future. The state would be hands-off in regulating salons, lay off salon inspectors, and basically let salons do whatever they want. Florida salon owner Karen New, of Spa Touch in Orlando, says, “If licensing is taken away it will open the doors for those people that would like to open salons and spas to operate without anyone checking on sanitation and education....This will not promote job growth as they wish, but a possible flood of lawsuits.”

I urge you to contact Hukill at 850-488-6653 or dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov and Senate President Mike Haridopolos at 850-487-5056 or haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov to tell them the nail industry should stay regulated for the sake of consumer safety.

—Sree