Shampoo assistants in salons and spas could find themselves facing new state regulations.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Saratoga Springs, and Assemblyman John McDonald III, D-Albany, reintroduced A.6578 back in January but the bill never made it out of the Economic Development Committee. Last week, Sen. Jen Metzger, D-Middletown, introduced companion legislation in the state Senate.

The legislation would require a shampoo assistant certificate must have completed a minimum of 500 hours of the required 1,000 hours of an approved cosmetology course, in a duly licensed school. In addition to requiring schooling, shampooing someone’s hair in a salon would now be accompanied by a fee. The shampoo certificate would have to be renewed each year.

Those who shampoo hair without a certificate could face a $500 fine on the first offense and a $1,000 fine for subsequent violations.

The legislation is backed by the Salon and Spa Professionals Of New York, who wrote on their website that under current state licensing rules anyone who performs services for a client in a salon or spa receives a license except for shampoo assistants.

The association also says current rules allow only for job shadowing at a professional spa, barbership or spa until a student receives a license. The Shampoo Assistant Certificate, supporters say, would allow students to start working in a salon earlier and earn money.

“The exposure for cosmetology students has been limited to observation only work-based learning experiences in salons,” Woerner wrote in her legislative justification. “Under the current regu- lations, they are not allowed to perform shampoo services on clients and salons are reluctant to hire students with this limitation. Observing advanced procedures and techniques in a salon setting allows students to gain knowledge and skills to better prepare them to successfully complete the licensing exams. This certification will also provide students with an opportunity to gain paid employment and will encourage them to follow through and complete the licensing requirements.”

Cosmetology school can cost upwards of $10,000, depending on the length of the program.

“It’s shocking that with so many New Yorkers out of work that some legislators want to throw obstacles in front of job seekers. Their focus should be on cutting taxes and regulations, not creating more,” added Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Staten Island Republican.