COLUMBIA - A bill that would let hair braiders operate with a six-hour training class and registration stalled in a Senate subcommittee Wednesday when cosmetologists objected.

Braids are popular with beach visitors, especially young girls. But two years ago, the state shut the braiders down after ruling that they must be licensed cosmetologists to braid hair for money.

A bill that sought to help them by requiring 60 hours of training in safety and cleanliness passed last year but was vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford. He said braiders should not be regulated. But without a change in the law, they are still subject to the rule requiring them to be licensed cosmetologists.

Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, filed the new bill. It requires that braiders pass a test, pay a $25 fee every two years and two hours of retraining for a new registration.

Nancy Poole of Myrtle Beach, president of the Palmetto Cosmetology Association, said the bill lowers standards for her profession.

"It's really kind of demoralizing to us," she said.

Braiders who are not cosmetologists have no training in scalp diseases, and no one is checking to see if they are following sanitation procedures, she said. "Six hours is just not enough," Poole said.

Pat Adams, chairwoman of the state Cosmetology Board, said the bill is being pushed by people from out of state who have no cosmetology training. Braiding is being done at hotel poolsides and in swimwear shops and unwary tourists could be damaged, she said.

People who do manicures and other nail work must have 350 hours of training so it's not unreasonable to expect braiders to have a similar amount, Adams said.

Randall Bryant, legislative liaison for the state Labor, Licensing and Regulation board, which includes cosmetologists, said his agency is confident that six hours of training is enough to protect the public and that agency officials are able to keep an adequate check on braiders.

The subcommittee adjourned without taking action because members had to go into session. Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-West Columbia, asked Adams and Poole to provide written comments on the proposal. Another meeting date has not been set.