As used in this compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall govern the terms herein:

1. (1) ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBER. Any individual in full-time duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States including members of the National Guard and Reserve.
2. (2) ADVERSE ACTION. Any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action permitted by a member state’s laws which is imposed by a state licensing authority or other regulatory body against a cosmetologist, including actions against an individual’s license or authorization to practice, such as revocation, suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation of the licensee’s practice, or any other encumbrance on a license affecting an individual’s ability to participate in the cosmetology industry, including the issuance of a cease and desist order.
3. (3) ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM. A non-disciplinary monitoring or prosecutorial diversion program approved by a member state’s state licensing authority.
4. (4) AUTHORIZATION TO PRACTICE. A legal authorization associated with a multistate license permitting the practice of cosmetology in that remote state, which shall be subject to the enforcement jurisdiction of the state licensing authority in that remote state.
5. (5) BACKGROUND CHECK. The submission of information for an applicant for the purpose of obtaining that applicant’s criminal history record information, as further defined in 28 C.F.R. § 20.33, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining state criminal or disciplinary history in the applicant’s home state.
6. (6) CHARTER MEMBER STATE. Member states that have enacted legislation to adopt this compact where the legislation predates the effective date of this compact as defined in Section 34-7B-62.
7. (7) COMMISSION. The government agency whose membership consists of all states that have enacted this compact, which is known as the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, as defined in Section 34-7B-58, and which shall operate as an instrumentality of the member states.
8. (8) COSMETOLOGIST. An individual licensed in his or her home state to practice cosmetology.
9. (9) COSMETOLOGY, COSMETOLOGY SERVICES, and THE PRACTICE OF COSMETOLOGY. The care and services provided by a cosmetologist as set forth in the member state’s statutes and rules in the state where the services are being provided.

10. (10) CURRENT SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION. Either of the following:

    1. a. Investigative information that a state licensing authority, after an inquiry or investigation that complies with a member state’s due process requirements, has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate a violation of that state’s laws regarding fraud or the practice of cosmetology.
    2. b. Investigative information that indicates that a licensee has engaged in fraud or represents an immediate threat to public health and safety, regardless of whether the licensee has been notified and had an opportunity to respond.
11. (11) DATA SYSTEM. A repository of information about licensees including, but not limited to, license status, investigative information, and adverse actions.
12. (12) DISQUALIFYING EVENT. Any event which shall disqualify an individual from holding a multistate license under this compact, which the commission may by rule or order specify.
13. (13) ENCUMBRANCE. A revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of cosmetology by a state licensing authority.
14. (14) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A group of delegates elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the commission.
15. (15) HOME STATE. The member state which is a licensee’s primary state of residence, and where that licensee holds an active and unencumbered license to practice cosmetology.
16. (16) INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION. Information, records, or documents received or generated by a state licensing authority pursuant to an investigation or other inquiry.
17. (17) JURSIPRUDENCE REQUIREMENT. The assessment of an individual’s knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of cosmetology in a state.
18. (18) LICENSEE. An individual who currently holds a license from a member state to practice as a cosmetologist.
19. (19) MEMBER STATE. Any state that has adopted this compact.
20. (20) MULTISTATE LICENSE. A license issued by and subject to the enforcement jurisdiction of the state licensing authority in a licensee’s home state, which authorizes the practice of cosmetology in member states and includes authorizations to practice cosmetology in all remote states pursuant to this compact.
21. (21) REMOTE STATE. Any member state, other than the licensee’s home state.
22. (22) RULE. Any rule or regulation adopted by the commission under this compact which has the force of law.
23. (23) SINGLE-STATE LICENSE. A cosmetology license issued by a member state that authorizes practice of cosmetology only within the issuing state and does not include any authorization outside of the issuing state.
24. (24) STATE. A state, territory, or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia.
25. (25) STATE LICENSING AUTHORITY. A member state’s regulatory body responsible for issuing cosmetology licenses or otherwise overseeing the practice of cosmetology in that state.

(Act 2023-488, §2.)