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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation (S.6343-A/A.10574) Wednesday to protect barbershop, beauty shop and salon service providers against individuals who steal their services. The bill closes a loophole in the law to include the failure to pay for services provided by a barbershop, salon, or beauty shop. The new law will make it a class A misdemeanor.

"Beauty salons and barber shops are no different than other small businesses whose livelihoods depend on the support of their communities," Cuomo said. "This legislation closes a nonsensical loophole that gives these businesses equal protection under the law once and for all."

Under current law, an individual who knowingly fails to pay for a service is not subject to criminal prosecution, leaving certain small business owners at risk of great financial loss. This bill will amend the law to protect those merchants who provide nonmaterial products by making it a criminal offense to obtain services from a barbershop, beauty shop or salon without paying for that service.

"With this new law, we are taking a major step forward to prevent theft and protect beauty shops and barber shops across New York," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "These small businesses are cornerstones of communities from Buffalo to Brooklyn, and when they lose out on compensation for the services they provide, it often brings significant financial hardship. By strengthening the law to allow for theft of services prosecution, we are bringing peace of mind to small business owners who work tirelessly day in and day out."

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