A new law took effect on January 1 that will require cosmetologists to learn about the signs of domestic violence, in hopes that some will recognize those signs in their clients.
SB 216, passed in July, mandates that an applicant for a cosmetology license “successfully complete[s] up to one (1) hour of online or in-person training, at no cost to the applicant, by a nonprofit anti-domestic violence organization recognized by the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on domestic violence that focuses on how to recognize the signs of domestic violence, how to respond to these signs, and how to refer a client to resources for victims of domestic violence.”
The program will fall under the oversight of the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the state’s Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners
“Tennessee’s beauty professionals are caring, compassionate individuals who are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all their customers, but may not know how to respond when confronted with domestic violence,” the board’s Executive Director Roxana Gumucio said when the bill was passed.
The premise behind the law is that victims of domestic violence are more likely to share their experiences with people they know than with authorities.
“Most domestic violence victims will not report abuse to law enforcement, but they will tell someone with whom they have a long-standing relationship, such as a cosmetologist or barber,” Gumucio said. “Tennessee beauty professionals have a unique position to help identify domestic violence and assist victims.”
Illinois and Arkansas already have similar laws on the books.
State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin) and state Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) cosponsored the bill.
“The COVID-19 pandemic showed that not everyone is safer at home. I’m proud to have sponsored this legislation and equally proud of the vast majority of my colleagues for recognizing the crisis of domestic violence and acting to make positive change in our laws,” Whitson said when the law was passed. “While we had to wait a full year before we could get this measure passed, we have a much better and stronger law because of the pandemic.”
A study published in the American Behavioral Journal of Emergency Medicine said that rates of domestic violence jumped 25 to 33 percent worldwide in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the year during which lockdowns were most prominent.
“This cursory analysis illustrates that stay-at-home orders may create a worst-case scenario for individuals suffering from DV and demonstrates a need for further research,” the study said. “With the apparent rise in DV reports, there is a need for more current and standardized modalities of reporting actionable DV data.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Hair Stylist” by Unique koncept. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Bad enough our own government spies on us. Now your barber. Conservative TN? Don’t think so. Gov should have vetoed this bill.
Tennessee governor and legislators have succeeded in creating a new group of informants. How foolish this is. Another strike against our governor for signing this bill.
What a stupid and potentially harmful law. Apparently our legislators have nothing serious to consider other than feelgood stuff. Stupid is as stupid does.
Makes one wonder what additional stupid bills are in store for us this year. I can only wait.
Wow! I can see all kinds of potential problems with this. First, I tired of politicians and bureaucrats “requiring” citizens to do thing they aren’t adequately trained to do and may be opposed to doing. What will the consequences be – will you not be allowed to work in cosmetology if you don’t do this. On the other end of the spectrum; if you do, are you opening yourself up to lawsuits from angry clients who got a notification from some government entity to report to a treatment center for domestic violence?? Way too much over reach, way too much government involvement.
The sad thing is, with the evolution of the ‘Karen’ coupled with this new generation of limp wristed, skinny jean, millennials, the cases of domestic abuse against men are on the rise, but goes severely underreported.