Governor says ’shampoo bill’ highlights wacky SC laws
5/15/2008 2:26 AM   0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By SEANNA ADCOXAssociated Press WriterCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A state law that required salon employees to undergo 1,500 hours of training to shampoo hair is but one example of wacky South Carolina edicts that belong on “Comedy Central,” not the state law books, Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday.Standing in a salon in downtown Columbia, the Republican governor signed legislation deleting that requirement, taking the opportunity to poke fun at what he called a “whole host of fairly ridiculous, sometimes crazy rules and laws in South Carolina.”The measure, nicknamed the “shampoo bill,” exempts salon employees whose sole duty is to wash hair from the state’s cosmetology license requirements. But Sanford said it still leaves the state mandate that hair stylists undergo 1,500 hours of training, compared to 396 hours to become a police officer and eight hours for a license to carry a concealed weapon.He ranked the requirements for becoming a cosmetologist No. 1 in his Top Ten list of crazy laws.“It just doesn’t pass the litmus test of common sense,” Sanford said, calling on legislators to undo more of such laws.It’s ridiculous that fortune tellers need a special permit in South Carolina, he said, adding he’s never been to one himself. Or that state law bans the sale of musical instruments on Sunday. Or that a casket salesman needs a special license.“You can’t do much harm to a dead guy,” Sanford said.He said lawmakers too often pass laws to protect monopolies, not consumers, and over-regulate. He noted as an example a bill proposed this year that would require high school football and basketball playoff games to have replay for referees. It’s high school, he said, not the NFL.In 2003, the House narrowly rejected a bill requiring wrappers on all drinking straws distributed in restaurants and other public places.On a serious note, La Spalon owner Alan Ray said the “shampoo bill” will allow the state’s 5,000 salons to get more customers in the door, because stylists can spend more time cutting and styling hair. He said it will create jobs and allow businesses like his to expand.“These little baby bills can make a huge difference,” said Rep. Nikki Haley, a La Spalon customer. The Lexington Republican said she proposed the bill after talking to Ray as he shampooed her hair and was shocked by what he told her.

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