At MinnPost, Briana Bierschbach reports A new Legislature gears up to tackle the same old issues:
Legislators returned to the Minnesota State Capitol building this week after a messy, three-year restoration project — two months after a contentious election that ushered in 44 new lawmakers and gave Republicans control of both the House and Senate.
But any notion of a fresh start in St. Paul ends there.
The first week of the 2017 legislative session was dominated by failed issues of legislative sessions past, from tax relief and bonding projects to the problem-plagued health insurance exchange. The main push came from DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, who took to his bully pulpit to call on the Republican-controlled Legislature to take care of any unfinished business quickly in January, before the messy process of crafting the next two-year budget picks up in February and March.
Far away from the teeming fleshpots of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Alexandria Echo Press reports on another issue that seems to be demanding additional legislative relief.
Eyelash extensions.
In Who puts on your lashes?, Celeste Edenloff reports:
When laws regarding who and where the service of eyelash extensions can be performed recently changed, Joie Chapin's rent more than doubled.
Chapin was renting space in a office building for $225 per month. With the change in the law, which occurred last May, she felt forced to move and is now renting space at a licensed salon and pays $595 per month. And, she is also paying $30 per month for professional liability insurance.
A licensed cosmetologist, Chapin said she was worried about getting into trouble by not being in a licensed salon once she found out it was part of the new rules.
"I was worried about losing my cosmetology license and fees that could be charged," said Chapin, who specializes in eyelash extensions and custom blend makeup. "I moved to a new salon and couldn't be happier. I'm happy to pay the extra rent knowing that I am among a few in town who are doing it right."
With Minnesota legislators now back in session, Chapin, along with others who perform eyelash extension services, are hoping the law becomes more clear as to what the rules and regulations really are. There seems to be plenty of confusion over who can actually perform the service, which has its fair share of safety concerns including the potential for infection of the cornea and eyelid.
Catrina Mairose, chief of staff, Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners in St. Paul, said that she is hoping after this legislative session, there will be new information for those who are hoping to only provide eyelash extension services.
The new law, she said, defines eyelash extensions and an eyelash technician license, but it doesn't grant the board the authority to issue or implement the new license type.
"Additional legislation will be necessary to create rules to guide and issue the eyelash extension technician license, such as training and educational requirements," said Mairose. "Essentially, the law created a skeleton for the license but we still need the rest of the body to make it work." . . .
The 2016 bill was introduced to give relief to those wishing to offer eyelash extensions without having to undergo 600 hours of training, which does seem to be excessive. The final language required a new category of licensee, eyelash extension technicians, to receive 14 hours of training.
First the buffer bill needed clarification--and we heard at a town hall in Minnesota House District 12B today that even more tweaks may be coming. And now the eyelash extension law needs to be filled in.
Photo: Don't try this at home! Go to a licensed professional.
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