Justice Dept: States can't deny professional lic to AIDS patients

Federal officials are telling states they cannot deny licenses to aspiring barbers, masseuses and home health care aids because they have AIDS or HIV.

The Justice Department says it is advising state authorities that stopping people with the virus from getting such licenses or not admitting them to occupational training schools is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

For instance, some states require cosmetologists be free from contagious, communicable or infections diseases. The government says that type of regulation is outdated and was not intended to block people with HIV.

The Supreme Court has found people with AIDS or HIV are covered under the law barring discrimination against people with disabilities.