Orlando, FL – Following the Governor’s veto of HB 133, Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) expressed her disappointment over the decision to reject a bill aimed at assisting non-violent offenders. The bill on licensure for barbers and cosmetology specialists, unanimously supported by the legislature (31-0 Senate and 114-0 House), sought to prevent the Florida Board of Cosmetology from using a history of non-violent incarceration as grounds for denying licenses. It aimed to offer crucial support and opportunities for rehabilitation, helping individuals reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism rates.
“I am extremely disappointed by the governor’s decision to veto this bill and deny former non-violent offenders, who have done their time, the opportunity to more easily obtain a license in barbering or cosmetology. This is about second chances,” said Stewart.
The bill would have prevented the Board of Cosmetology from reviewing certain records of criminal history that occurred more than three years before the date of application for a license. It also contained a provision allowing the board to deny an application if an individual committed an offense within the three-year period based on earlier offenses. Additionally, it required boards to approve educational program credits offered to inmates in correctional institutions or facilities for satisfying training requirements for a license.
“It is unjust that we continue to punish people for mistakes made in their past and prevent them from earning a living in the future. This bill could have been vital to someone’s future livelihood and helped reduce recidivism,” said Stewart.
The exemption of records considered by the board in HB 133 was drafted only to apply to convictions of specific non-violent crimes. Persons with convictions relating to Sexual Predators as defined in statute 775.21(4)(a)1 and Forcible Felonies as defined in statute 776.08 were exceptions under this bill and could be grounds for denial of an application.
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