H‑1113.1   _____________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1042

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By House Of Representatives Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Campbell, Schual‑Berke, Skinner, Haigh and Lantz)

Read first time .  Referred to .

_1      AN ACT Relating to sterilization procedures in the commercial

_2  practices of electrology and tattooing; adding new sections to

_3  chapter 70.54 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

_4  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_5      NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54

_6  RCW to read as follows:

_7      The legislature finds and declares that the practices of

_8  electrology and tattooing involve an invasive procedure with the

_9  use of needles and instruments which may be dangerous when

10  improperly sterilized presenting a risk of infecting the client

11  with bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis B.  It is in the

12  interests of the public health, safety, and welfare to establish

13  requirements for the sterilization procedures in the commercial

14  practices of electrology and tattooing in this state.

15      NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54

16  RCW to read as follows:

                               p. 1                      SHB 1042

_1      The definitions in this section apply throughout sections 1, 3,

_2  and 4 of this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

_3      (1) "Electrologist" means a person who practices the business

_4  of electrology for a fee.

_5      (2) "Electrology" means the process by which hair is

_6  permanently removed through the utilization of solid needle/probe

_7  electrode epilation, including thermolysis, being of shortwave,

_8  high frequency type, and including electrolysis, being of galvanic

_9  type, or a combination of both which is accomplished by a

10  superimposed or sequential blend.

11      (3) "Tattoo artist" means a person who practices the business

12  of tattooing for a fee.

13      (4) "Tattooing" means the indelible mark, figure, or decorative

14  design introduced by insertion of nontoxic dyes or pigments into

15  or under the subcutaneous portion of the skin upon the body of a

16  live human being for cosmetic or figurative purposes.

17      NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54

18  RCW to read as follows:

19      The secretary of health shall adopt by rule requirements for

20  the sterilization of needles and instruments by electrologists and

21  tattoo artists in accordance with nationally recognized

22  professional standards.  The secretary shall consider the universal

23  precautions for infection control, as recommended by the United

24  States centers for disease control, and guidelines for infection

25  control, as recommended by the national environmental health

26  association and the alliance of professional tattooists, in the

27  adoption of these sterilization requirements.

28 

29      NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 70.54

30  RCW to read as follows:

31      (1) Any person who practices electrology or tattooing shall

32  comply with the rules adopted by the department of health under

33  section 3 of this act.

34      (2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

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