Bill > HB1247

This bill authorizes Virginia to join the Esthetics Licensure Compact, an agreement among states to allow licensed estheticians to practice in other member states. The Compact aims to improve public access to and safety of esthetics services by creating a unified system for multistate licensure, which will also benefit estheticians by increasing their mobility. To achieve this, the Compact establishes a Commission to oversee its implementation, defines terms like "esthetician" and "multistate license," and outlines requirements for member states, including having mechanisms for complaint investigation and requiring competency examinations. It also details the process for obtaining and maintaining a multistate license, the authority of member state licensing bodies, and procedures for handling adverse actions against licensees. The Compact includes provisions for active duty military members and their spouses, establishes the Commission's powers and responsibilities, and sets up a data system for sharing licensee information. It also outlines rules for rulemaking, dispute resolution, and enforcement, and specifies that the Compact will become effective once enacted by a seventh member state, with Virginia agreeing to cover the costs of any background checks required for multistate license applicants.