Ignite the Fight 2020

January 15, 2020 /

Legislative Session in Washington State Began Monday Jan 13, 2020.

Its only the first week and we’ve already seen bills that pertain to the cosmetology industry. 

Now we wait for these bills to be scheduled in Committee for hearings and/or testimony. We will sound the alert as new bills are published and hearings affecting our industry our scheduled.

The Disadvantage: 

THIS YEAR WE HAVE A TOTAL OF ONLY 60 DAYS to share our VOICES.

It is imperative we make time in our busy schedules to write, call, testify and make meetings in Olympia with our District Legislators. Be sure to check in daily with the Facebook Group for general updates, and join as an advocate for inside action plans.

The Advantage:

It is an ELECTION YEAR. 

Legislators are up for re-election and will be desperate to keep their seat and the power it wields. Every time you speak with your DISTRICT LEGISLATORS mention how many constituents you see in your chair. Remind them how you have a regular chance to influence opinions with your clientele.

To Find Your District:

 go to: app.leg.wa.gov/DISTRICTFINDER

Read below to get the LOWDOWN on what has been introduced that could effect the Cosmetology sector in WA State:

OPPOSE SB6276: WAGE PROTECTIONS FOR “FREELANCERS”

To sign up for email notifications and follow progress and updates on the bill go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6276&Initiative=false&Year=2019

Read an actual copy of SB6276: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6276.pdf

To Oppose go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/6276

  1. This bill is designed to guarantee minimum wage protections for small businesses that set their own prices, schedules, supplies and have their own trade names. One large concern is that this new term FREELANCER is not sufficiently defined to distinguish between booth renters/independent contractors. What is the difference between a person who is self employed, an Independent Contractor or a Freelancer? Essentially NOTHING– its just a new ribbon on an old gift from Sen. Karen Keiser.
  2. Last year in 2019, State Legislators attempted to pass legislation that would have instituted “Wage Board” pricing which included mandatory pay into L&I and Unemployment Insurance by Independent Contractors. Our combined efforts made us successful in stopping 2019’s harmful bills in their tracks.
  3. The legislators claim these Bills are designed to protect gig economy workers and app driven businesses like Uber or Instacart. Unfortunately, (similarly to last year) we small business cosmetologists are being wrapped into the same category as gig workers.
  4. A cosmetology sector worker who is self employed currently has the ability to assess their overhead expenses and personal needs in order to determine pricing. This bill would remove that ability and dramatically overlegislate where current laws are already not being fully enforced. So many questions come up in regards to this bill.
  5. A passing of SB 6276 would instantaneously give WA State the reputation of being hostile towards small business, and that laws are more important than people.

How do they plan to enforce this for the self employed?

Majority of the self employed have no likeness to app driven businesses, but by not creating a clear definition for gig workers that differentiates them from legitimate independent contractors, legislators are imposing the changes outlined in this bill on all small businesses that have only one person.

Regardless of intention this idea of a minimum wage for independent contractors infringes on the right of the contractor as a business owner to charge what they wish to charge for their services.

  • The salon owners we lease from are simply our landlords. Will they suggest salon space owners have to compensate leasers who have a rental term agreement, when they have no behavioral control over the lessees work, supplies or schedules?
  • Do you suggest the self employed verify and log all their hours just for the benefit of satisfying lawmakers?
  • Will they expect our clients to prove to them that their provider made minimum wage or higher?
  • Does the client have to pay for hours worked on the business when they are not receiving a service (ie, in marketing, expense tracking, supply ordering, etc.)
  • Will they expect us to provide our hours worked, and income received to prove that we made more than minim wage every month?

The list of issues with SB 6276 are endless. We cannot afford to get this wrong when people’s businesses and livelihoods are on the line.

OPPOSE SB 5326: BOOTH RENTAL BAN

This is an automatic re-introduction of the harmful booth rental ban from 2019. We highly doubt Keiser is willing to bear the brunt of 1000’s of cosmetologists again…but ya never know! So remind your legislators why you oppose a booth rental ban for cosmetologists and barbers.

Passing of SB 5326 would essentially hand the advantage over to corporate and employee based salons and suites and would dramatically impact the availability of service providers in local economy.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5326&Year=2019&Initiative=false

Bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5326.pdf

to oppose go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5326

Bills Concerning our Industry that are Probably a Good Thing:

SUPPORT HB 2357:  Concerning professional license reform.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2357&Initiative=false&Year=2019

SUPPORT HB 2356: Reducing barriers to professional licensure for individuals with previous criminal convictions

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2356&Initiative=false&Year=2019

SUPPORT HB 2355: Creating alternative professional licensing standards

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2355&Initiative=false&Year=2019

SUPPORT HB 2354: Expediting professional licenses for new Washington residents.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2354&Initiative=false&Year=2019

It Cannot be Stressed Enough How Important it is for each of us to Read These Bills for Ourselves and Determine how we Feel About them.

YES THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO READ and CONFUSING. Try not to get discouraged! Happy Reading!

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