Audit: Arizona Barbers Board Failed To Conduct Inspections, Record Complaints
On its website, the Arizona State Board of Barbers mission statement is “to ensure that the public health safety and welfare is protected from the incompetent practice of barbering.”
But the board failed to do its job thoroughly, according to the Arizona Auditor General.
The auditor’s August report found the board failed to conduct required annual inspections in 2019 and 2020 and stopped presenting inspection violations for board consideration of disciplinary actions between May 2020 and March 2021.
While the audit found the board generally issued and renewed licenses within established time frames, the board did not ensure applicants met all requirements in 21 of the 33 applications reviewed.
Two consumer complaints reportedly went unaddressed for more than four months until auditors requested documentation. The audit also said the board incorrectly recorded outcomes for three complaints and did not record outcomes for two others.
In its response letter, the board of barbers said it agreed with the findings and would implement all 18 audit recommendations.
State law requires a 5-member board appointed by the governor. The board’s revenue consists primarily of licensing fees and does not get state general fund money, but in fiscal year 2020-2021, the board was allocated 4 full-time equivalent staff positions.
Board Overview
- 6,264 active individual licenses as of June 1, 2021
- 1,835 active establishment licenses as of June 1, 2021
- 342 establishment inspections in 2019 and 2020
- 32 complaints received between July 2019 and December 2020
Source: Arizona Auditor General
