H-0897.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1448

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Zellinsky, Scott, Schmidt and Sheldon

Read first time 01/27/93.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Regulating tattooers and tattoo parlors.

          AN ACT Relating to business regulations; adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

          (1) "Tattoo" means a permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or raising a scar.

          (2) "Tattooer" means a person who performs the act of applying a tattoo.

          (3) "Tattoo parlor" means a place of business where tattooing takes place.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) All tattooers shall register with the secretary of health annually and pay an annual renewal registration fee determined by the secretary of health as provided in RCW 43.70.250 on or before the certificate holder's birth anniversary date.  The certificate of the tattooer shall be renewed for a period of one year or longer in the discretion of the secretary of health.

          (2) The fee for the certificate shall cover expenses incurred by the department of health for the inspection of tattoo parlors to assure its sanitary condition.

          (3) The department of health shall adopt those rules necessary to implement this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  (1) A person receiving a tattoo must be at least eighteen years of age.  A person under eighteen years of age may receive a tattoo only if he or she presents the tattooer with a notarized letter from a parent or guardian allowing the minor to receive a tattoo.

          (2) When a person under eighteen years of age receives a tattoo in violation of subsection (1) of this section, either the tattooer or the tattoo parlor, or both, shall be liable for the cost of removal of the minor's tattoo.

          (3) A person violating subsection (1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  Sections 1 through 3 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.

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