Tedy Okech (Charlotte Amoussou) and Sonia Ekemon practice African-style hair braiding together for over 60 years. Ekemon Picked upOkech was able to use this skill while living in Benin’s refugee camp. Okech learned how braid hair while in Sudan to provide financial support for her family.
Okech and Amoussou hoped that they could do the same thing in Idaho. But the expensive and lengthy licensing process of the state prevented them practicing their trade. You can now get the HelpThey are part of the Institute for Justice which is a law firm that advocates for libertarian public interests. SuingThe Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board is responsible for granting braiding rights.
Ekemon said that she has three small children, which she takes care of. The Washington Post. “This is the only way I can feed my family. “I really do need this.”
Idaho is just one of five states with this distinction RequiresCosmetology licensing is required for hair braiders. It can be expensive and time-consuming. Braids are required Submit1,600 hours training in cosmetology schools before passing a practical test. According to the Institute for Justice, Idaho doesn’t require schools that teach African-style braiding. In fact, only two of the 110 questions in the written exam are for students who have never been trained by a cosmetologist. Press release. The practical examination does not include braiding.
Idaho has to license 67 out of the 102 low-income occupations that were surveyed in the Institute for Justice’s 2017 License To Work Report. This is a major roadblock for Idahoans looking for ways to improve their financial situation. Training MandatoryIdaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board – A hair-braiding licence can cost as high as $22,000 Such barriers to entry are It is prohibitivePeople who have low incomes, are immigrants or want to switch careers can protect incumbents, while protecting consumers. Correctly verified by the Institute for Justice These are the pointsHow absurd it is that Idaho would use risk to justify hair-braiding regulations. The state doesn’t require tattoo artists be licensed.
Though occupational licenses are required supposedly in the name of preserving safety and standards in certain fields, the list of licensed professions—which varies from state to state—is often arbitrary. Idaho requires that travel guides, haircutters, makeup artists and naturopathic physicians practitioners as well shorthand reporters be licensed by their state. The same goes for more risky plumbers, vets, nurses and pharmacists. Idaho is one of two states. RequireLog scaler licenses that allow you to estimate the log’s value The fees, education and experience requirements for licensing each profession are not well-thought out.
Following the Institute for Justice’s lawsuit, state Rep. Colin Nash (D–Boise) IntroducedA bill to remove licensing requirements for hair-braiders. Nash claimed that although the state believed that it had fixed the problem last year, the Board of Cosmetology was served with a federal lawsuit. Nash SubmittedThe House State Affairs Committee stated that legislation could “hopefully make the taxpayers some cash, and take out the way for private business owners who want to practice hair braiding.”
This bill was received unanimous supportThe Idaho House is now the Senate. People like Okech and Amoussou who want to practice the skills acquired by informal routes, are limited in their options for work due to restrictive licensing requirements. Idaho’s latest legislative and political actions could reduce these difficulties.