SSPA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY STATEMENT

The Salon & Spa Professional Association (SSPA) is the sole recognized voice at the Minnesota State Capitol pertaining to all matters concerning the practice of cosmetology. Our advocacy dates back to our creation in 1924 as a state association, and we have consistently been at the legislative forefront to improve and advance the profession of cosmetology. This also includes direct involvement with key regulatory agencies such as the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology (MBC).

Our past and current actions include:

• The creation of the MBC, which transferred state regulation of cosmetology from a woefully ineffective Department of Commerce division to a more responsive and appropriately staffed independent state board that includes licensed cosmetology representatives.

• The enactment of continuing education requirements for practitioners. SSPA continuously works to maintain this program's integrity in statute to ensure its effectiveness. This includes the expansion of required credits from four hours initially to eight hours beginning in 2017 during a licensee's three-year license cycle, as well as instituting safeguards to ensure all providers abide by the law.

• Rejection of legislation seeking to make cosmetology services subject to the state sales tax (2014).

• Rejection of a 2014 proposed practitioner license fee increase over twice the current rate. A more reasonable increase limited to only $35 (less than $12 annually) was successfully negotiated.

• SSPA, along with input from our members, was able to convince the MBC to remove or significantly alter language we identified as problematic before the final version of the sweeping new 2015 rules that became effective in 2016.

• SSPA was involved in the separate additional rules governing advance practice aestheticians as well as mobile salons that were drafted by the MBC.

• SSPA organizes an annual "Day on the Hill" initiative that brings cosmetologists to Capitol Hill in Saint Paul to meet and interact with key legislators and policymakers during the legislative session. SPPA also regularly communicates to members and other key interest groups to inform, educate, and if need be, encourage their personal calls to directly engage their lawmakers with phone calls or written letters as situations may require. This "grassroots" lobbying component is highly effective but reserved only for special circumstances to ensure its full impact.

SSPA has demonstrated for decades that it is prepared and qualified to represent YOU!

Although the entire industry benefits from our lobbying efforts, it is sustained entirely as part of membership in SSPA. Your voice can only be heard if you join us and become part of the effort to ensure our continued effectiveness and success. It’s what’s best for your career, your business, and our industry overall. JOIN