HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5391

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House - Amended:

April 13, 2009

Title: An act relating to regulating body art, body piercing, and tattooing practitioners, shops, and businesses.

Brief Description: Regulating body art, body piercing, and tattooing practitioners, shops, and businesses.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama, Haugen, Fairley, Roach and Pflug).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care & Wellness: 3/19/09, 3/26/09 [DPA];

Ways & Means: 4/4/09 [DPA(WAYS w/o HCW)].

Floor Activity

Passed House - Amended: 4/13/09, 95-2.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House)

  • Requires a person who practices body art, body piercing, or tattooing to be licensed.

  • Requires a person who operates a body art, body piercing, or tattooing business to be licensed.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Driscoll, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Clibborn, Green, Herrera, Hinkle, Kelley, Moeller, Morrell and Pedersen.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Bailey.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Ways & Means and without amendment by Committee on Health Care & Wellness. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Ericks, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Cody, Darneille, Haigh, Hunt, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Pettigrew, Priest, Seaquist and Sullivan.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Ross and Schmick.

Staff: Serah Stetson (786-7109)

Background:

Body Artists, Body Piercers, and Tattoo Artists.

Tattoo artists and electrologists must follow sterilization standards adopted by the Department of Health (DOH). Violation of these standards constitutes a misdemeanor (punishable by 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both) and negligence per se; i.e., the plaintiff does not have to prove that there was a breach of duty in a negligence case. There are no similar requirements for body piercers or body artists.

There are no licensure requirements for tattoo artists, body piercers, or body artists.

The Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act.

The Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act (URBPA) governs the licensure and discipline of certain business professions. Unprofessional conduct under the URBPA includes:

Under the URBPA, the disciplinary authority may investigate possible incidences of unprofessional conduct and file charges against the license holder. A license holder may request a hearing from the disciplinary authority, which must be conducted under the Administrative Procedures Act. Upon a finding of unprofessional conduct, the disciplinary authority may issue an order providing for any of the following (or a combination thereof):

A person who has been disciplined under the URBPA may appeal to the superior court under the Administrative Procedures Act.

License Suspension for Child Support Obligations.

When a person is in non-compliance with a child support order, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) may certify that he or she is in non-compliance. Upon such certification, the non-compliant person is subject to the suspension of several licenses; e.g., a driver's license, fishing license, or hunting license. Once the person is back into compliance, the licenses may be reinstated.

The Consumer Protection Act.

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce. The Attorney General may bring an action to enforce the provisions of the CPA. In addition, a person injured by a violation of the CPA may bring a civil action in which the person may be awarded court costs, attorney fees, and treble damages.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Beginning on July 1, 2010, no person may practice body art, body piercing, or tattooing, or operate a body art, body piercing, or tattooing shop or business, unless he or she has a license in good standing issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL). For purposes of the act:

Licenses relating to body art, body piercing, or tattooing are considered in "good standing" unless they have expired, been denied, been revoked, been suspended, or are held by a person who has not complied with an order from the Director of the DOL (Director) requiring the payment of restitution or a fine, or to acquire additional training. The Director must set fees for the issuance and renewal of the licenses, which must be higher for businesses than for individuals.

Licenses relating to body art, body piercing, or tattooing expire after one year, unless the Director has established a different expiration date in order to establish staggered renewal periods. Failure to renew by a license's renewal date subjects the license holder to a monetary penalty. A person who does not renew his or her license within one year of the expiration date will have his or her license cancelled and must submit a new application, pay the license fee, meet current licensing requirements, and pass any applicable examination before the license may be reinstated.

The Secretary of the Department of Health (Secretary) must adopt precautions against the spread of disease for body artists, body piercers, tattoo artists, and electrologists. Violation of the precautions is negligence per se. When adopting the precautions, the Secretary must consider federal and industry standards. The Director must establish minimum safety and sanitation standards for practitioners of body art, body piercing, or tattooing as determined by the DOH. The Director may by rule determine additional safety and sanitation requirements for shops and businesses. When establishing the additional standards, the Director may consult with the Department of Labor and Industries and the State Board of Health.

A body art, body piercing, or tattooing shop or business must:

The Director must prepare a notice to consumers that must be provided to all licensed shops or businesses. At a minimum, the notice must state that body art, body piercing, and tattooing shops or businesses are required to be licensed, that shops or businesses are required to maintain minimum safety and sanitation standards, that customer complaints regarding shops or businesses may be reported to the Department, and a telephone number and address where complaints may be made.

The Director must inspect each body art, body piercing, or tattoo shop or business upon receipt of a written complaint or at least once every two years. The Director may enter any shop or business during business hours for purposes of inspection and may contract with local health authorities to conduct the inspections. If the Director finds that the shop or business is out of compliance with applicable requirements, he or she must send written notice to the shop or business, which has a reasonable period of time to get back into compliance.

The URBPA governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensed body artists, body piercers, tattoo artists, and body art, body piercing, and tattoo shops and businesses. In addition to unprofessional conduct defined in the URBPA, the Director is authorized to take disciplinary action for violations of the CPA; the unlicensed practice of body art, body piercing, or tattooing; failure to display a body art, body piercing, or tattooing license; or violation of any other statutes or rules relating to body art, body piercing, or tattooing.

If, following a hearing, the Director finds that a person has violated the statutes or rules relating to body art, body piercing, or tattooing, the Director may:

Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Director to issue or renew a license, by the revocation or suspension of a license, or by a penalty imposed for a violation, has the right to appeal the decision of the Director to the superior court of the county in which the person maintains his or her business. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the Director's decision.

The DOL must suspend the license of any body artist, body piercer, or tattoo artist who the DSHS has certified as being in non-compliance with a child support order. If the person continues to meet all other requirements for reinstatement during the period of suspension, the DOL must automatically reinstate the license once the DSHS has certified that the license holder is back in compliance with the child support order.

Violations of the requirements relating to body artists, body piercers, and tattooists violate the CPA.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: Sections 1-21, which establish the licensing program, take effect on July 1, 2010. Sections 22 and 23, which authorize the Director to take steps to ensure that the act is implemented by July 1, 2010, and provide codification instructions, take effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Health Care & Wellness):

(In support) This bill is a health and safety measure. It establishes a licensing and inspection program for tattooing, body art, and body piercing, which could serve as a national model. This bill is funded by fees and will have no effect on the State General Fund. Hepatitis C is an epidemic. The disease is deadly and has no cure. Tattooing, body art, and body piercing are modes of transmission of this disease.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means):

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Health Care & Wellness): Senator Kastama, prime sponsor; Kitty Candelaria, National Hepatitis C Institute; and Troy Amundson, Apocalypse Tattoo and Body Piercing.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Health Care & Wellness): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): None.