After passing both houses of the state legislature with strong bipartisan support, California Assembly bill 1263 was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill would have established minimum safety  standards for pedicure equipment and ensured proper protocols were followed for disinfecting all multiuse tools and equipment. It would also have required the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to conspicuously display a notice warning clients if a salon had received a violation.

The Governor’s veto message stated: “While some provisions in this bill are duplicative of existing regulations, it also contains provisions that could significantly harm innocent businesses.” He also noted the bill could conceivably place the board in the position of assuming liability for pedicure equipment. (12/2005)