ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would lessen restrictions for ex-cons interested in applying for a cosmetology or barber license.
Right now, anyone who has a conviction in the last five years can be denied a license simply because of their criminal history.
Despite this bill passing unanimously in the legislature, Gov. DeSantis believes it would prohibit the state from reviewing the criminal records of people applying for a license.
"It is our responsibility to make sure that when I come back that they have the best pathway to productive career to take care of their families," Rep. Kevin Chambliss said.
Florida lawmakers discussed during the session how Senate Bill 42 would give people leaving prison a second chance at returning back into society.
"The theme that comes up time and time again is hope. Please give them something to hope for," Rep. Rachel Plakon said.
Under the new bill, only convictions related to the barber or cosmetology professions could be considered and the review period was cut from five years down to three. Sex offenders and violent felons would not be eligible for a license, but Desantis objected to the change in reviewing criminal history.
In a letter to the Secretary of State, Desantis said there may be a good reason for the board to have this information before making a decision regarding a particular applicant.
"For you to discourage someone for something I have paid my debt for, where's the encouragement?" Craig Latimer with Lat and Son's Barbershop said.
Latimer said this law would've helped create jobs.
"It hurts because where is my retirement? I would have to get Youngblood in here, young guys in here to take over the craft to take over the shop, but if they're being denied because of a mistake they've made, I'm also being punished," Latimer said.
Latimer sees this as a step backward for his industry.
"We 're going to end up getting swallowed up by a big corporation," Latimer said.
Also, he said it's a step backward for people looking for opportunities.
"Do I go back to what put me in jail? Governor, what is my option now?" Latimer said.
The bill would also have required the state to approve educational credits from prison programs designed to help offenders work toward getting a license.
Right now, deciding whether to accept the credits is up to the discretion of the licensing board. Latimer said cosmetology or barber programs could cost up to $25,000.