Modifies languages that examinations are to be conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.

A1377

ASSEMBLY, No. 1377

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Haider, Lopez, Speight, McCoy, Assemblyman
Scharfenberger and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson

SYNOPSIS

���� Modifies languages that examinations are to be
conducted in for applicants seeking professional license issued by New Jersey
State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning examinations for professional
licenses issued by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling,
and amending P.L.1984, c.205.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

����
1.��� Section 27 of P.L.1984, c.205 (C.45:5B-27) is amended to read as
follows:

����� 27. All
examinations conducted by the board pursuant to
[
this act
]

P.L.1984,
c.205 (C.45:5B-1 et seq.), including any examination required of a practicing
licensee,
shall consist of practical and written portions and
[
may
]

shall

be administered in English,
with the option to take each portion of the
examination in one of the four other languages most commonly spoken in the
State, unless the languages are determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs
in the Department of Law and Public Safety to not be in compliance with
P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), in which case the division shall consult
with the board concerning the languages in which the examinations shall be
provided
,

and in the
case of practicing licensees,
[
in Spanish or
]
with the aid of a translator, if the board, in its
discretion
and in accordance with P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.)
,
deems that aid to be warranted.
If the board is deemed in compliance with
New Jersey law, the Division of Consumers Affairs shall consult the American
Community Survey issued by the United States Census Bureau, or a comparable
data set, to determine the four other languages most commonly spoken in the
State and post on its Internet website these languages in which the practical
and written examination are to be offered.� The division shall, at least every
five years, verify the four languages, other than English, most commonly spoken
in the State.

(cf:
P.L.1991, c.313, s.3)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the 12th month next after enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill modifies current law
by requiring the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to offer
its practical and written examinations in English, with the option for an
individual to take each portion of the examination in one of the four other
most commonly spoken languages in the State and, in the case of practicing
licensees, allow the use of a translator.� Existing law only requires the board
to provide the examinations in English, with the option of Spanish in the case
of practicing licensees (who may also be approved by the board for the use of a
translator). In addition, the bill ensures that languages for examinations
required by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling are in
compliance, as determined by the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department
of Law and Public Safety, with N.J.S.A.52:14-40 et seq. The Division of
Consumers Affairs is to consult the American Community Survey issued by the
United States Census Bureau, or other comparable data set, to determine the
four most commonly spoken languages and then post on its Internet website the
languages in which the practical and written examination will be offered.
Finally, the division is to verify, at least every five years, the four most
commonly spoken languages, other than English, in New Jersey.