S-0538.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5190

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Roach, Pelz, Smith and Heavey

Read first time 01/13/95.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Making it a crime to tattoo a person under age sixteen without the parent's permission.

    AN ACT Relating to tattooing of minors; adding a new section to chapter 26.28 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 26.28 RCW to read as follows:

    Every person who applies a tattoo to any minor under the age of sixteen without the written consent of the minor's parent or guardian is guilty of a misdemeanor.

    For the purposes of this section, "tattoo" includes any permanent marking or coloring of the skin with any pigment, ink, or dye, or any procedure that leaves a visible scar on the skin.  Medical procedures performed by a licensed physician are exempted from this section.

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