SB 490: Wages: Barbering and Cosmetology Act: licensees.

Existing law requires, with certain exceptions, that all wages be paid twice during each calendar month on days designated in advance by the employer as the regular paydays and requires the minimum wage for all industries to be $10. Existing law makes it a crime for any person to willfully refuse to pay wages due and payable after demand has been made. The Barbering and Cosmetology Act provides for the licensure and regulation of barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, electrologists, and apprentices by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, which is within the Department of Consumer Affairs.

This bill would require commission wages paid to any employee who is licensed under the Barbering and Cosmetology Act to be due and payable at least twice during each calendar month on a day designated in advance by the employer as the regular payday and would authorize the employee and employer to agree to a commission in addition to the base hourly rate. The bill would provide that commission wages are wages paid to an employee who is licensed under that act for providing services for which a license is required when paid as a percentage or a flat sum portion of the sums paid to the employee by the client receiving the service, and for selling goods, provided that the employee is paid a regular base hourly rate of at least 2 times the state minimum wage rate in addition to commissions paid. The bill would specify that the employee may be compensated for rest and recovery periods at a rate of pay not less than the employees regular base hourly rate. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would result in a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.