The Texas Cosmetology Commission regulated the cosmetology industry in Texas from 1971 to 2005. It was preceded by the Texas State Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists (1935-1971) and was absorbed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in 2005, becoming the Texas Cosmetology Advisory Board. Its activities included licensing and inspecting private and public beauty culture schools and salons, providing licensure examinations for individuals, issuing new licenses and certificates, renewing previously issued licenses, inspecting all licensed establishments for sanitation and compliance with rules and statutes, and investigating complaints related to individuals and establishments. Unlicensed individuals and establishments engaged in any prohibited acts of cosmetology were investigated and reported to the governing commission and civil authorities. Disciplinary and other administrative hearings were conducted as required in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and Texas Register Act.
The policymaking body of the agency was a seven-member commission, with six members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate for overlapping six-year terms. One appointed member held a valid beauty shop license; one held a valid private beauty culture school license; two held valid operator licenses; and two represented the general public. All appointed members had to be at least twenty-five years old. The associate commissioner for occupational education and technology of the Texas Education Agency or his or her authorized representative served as an ex officio member of the commission with voting privileges. No person could serve more than two consecutive terms. They were nonsalaried positions, and the governor designated the chair.
The Enforcement and Investigation Division of the commission inspected cosmetology salons, licensed individuals, schools, and students. Inspection staff resided in eighteen Texas cities (Abilene, Alamo, Arlington, Austin, Beaumont, Bedford, Burleson, Conroe, Dallas, El Paso, Garland, Grand Saline, Houston, Kingsville, Lubbock, Plano, San Antonio, and Spring). At the end of 1999, there were 335 cosmetology schools, 23,665 active salons, and 179,873 active individual cosmetologists licensed by the commission. The State Board of Barber Examiners and the Cosmetology Commission had an interagency contract for inspecting facilities with dual licenses. The commission worked with the Texas Education Agency in inspecting cosmetology programs in public schools and with the Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation.
(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, 11th edition (2001).)
From the guide to the Cosmetology Commission records, 1964-1997, (Texas State Archives)
