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Brad Watson reports

More nail salon investigation stories

AUSTIN - A woman who participated in an undercover video surveillance for News 8's investigation into nail salons appeared before the state's House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures to urge lawmakers to put more teeth into a recently enacted law.

When showed footage of the investigation, it revealed nail technicians' actions that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said were breaking rules that protect consumers from bacterial infections.

The video was shot by Betty Davis, a state licensed manicure instructor who went into the salons for News 8 as a customer.

"I think that the state needs to have the authority to shut down salons that pose a health to consumers, a risk to consumers' health," she said.

Her video, according to TDLR, found some nail techs not cleaning spa chair basins where bacteria can grow; and using a credo blade, which is illegal for salons, to shave calluses.

"Well, we're not licensed physicians," Davis said. "Physicians are licensed to do those types of thing, not nail technicians."

But state law does not allow inspectors to close salons to force them to clean up when serious violations are found.

So, the state could not close Angel Nails in Fort Worth last year after Kimberly Jackson died from an infection her family claimed she received from a pedicure at the salon.

However, the bill before the committee, which has growing support from business, would give inspectors that power.

"If TDLR has the authority to move quickly when there's a big problem, it will be good for the industry," said Charlie Schnabel, Lone Star Cosmetology assistant.

The committee approved the bill.

"It's a real public health issue out there and it's sort of an agreed upon bill," said Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont). "We met with the cosmetology community, the cosmetology colleges, the barbering community [and] everybody agreed something needed to be done."

No one spoke against the bill that now goes to the full house, which is expected to approve it and send it on to the Senate.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com