Paula Abdul (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

FROM AP:

Paula Abdul, right, urges lawmakers to approve a measure that would require stronger cleanliness standards for nail salons, during a committee hearing at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, June 27, 2005. Abdul told members of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Develoment Committee, how she had gotten an infection while getting a manicure from a Studio City nail salon in 2004. If passed by the Legislature, the measure by Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, left, wouldstrengthen cleanliness standards and require nail salons to post conspicous notices when disciplinary action is taken against them.

Abdul: More Regulations for Nail Salons

"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul urged California legislators to force nail salons to clean up their act, testifying Monday about her yearlong health ordeal after an unsanitary manicure.

Abdul said a trip in April 2004 to a Studio City nail shop that used unclean equipment sent her in and out of the hospital, and made her the butt of late-night talk show jokes.

"Being a professional dancer, I'm no stranger to pain, but this time the pain was so excruciating that even my hair touching my thumb caused me to scream," Abdul told the California Senate Business and Professions Committee in Sacramento.

The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, would establish safety standards for manicure and pedicure equipment and rewrite state regulations mandating that nail shops follow sanitary practices.

Customers are vulnerable to bacterial infections if manicurists do not properly sanitize their tools between jobs.

The bill was expected to pass in committee. If that occurs, it would likely come before the full Senate sometime in the next two weeks.

"I was publicly humiliated," Abdul said in her closing statement. "That is why with an open heart and a selfless agenda, I implore you to pass this bill."