OLYMPIA — Washington is one of 16 states where minors can get their bellybuttons or tongues pierced without their parents' permission. But that looks likely to change this year, state lawmakers say.

An organization of body-piercing businesses is backing legislation to regulate the industry's health practices and make it a crime to pierce anybody younger than 18 without parental consent.

Under House Bill 2090, the state Health Department would set safety standards for piercing and other forms of body art, including skin branding and scarring.

The bill was approved unanimously by the House Health Care Committee yesterday after a brief hearing. The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, said she believes the bill will get a strong reception on the House floor.

"This bill's time has arrived," Appleton said. "We need to be regulating in the areas of hygiene. A decade ago, this wouldn't be an issue. Now, we know it's forever.

"At least if this generation is going to do body piercing, we need to know where they go is clean and regulated," she said.

Body piercers in Washington are not required to have any additional licensing beyond a business license. They learn their trade primarily by apprenticeship, said Troy Amundson, a body piercer at Apocalypse, a tattoo and piercing studio on Seattle's Capitol Hill.

Amundson, who supports the bill, said body piercers at reputable shops are pushing for these added regulations, which they believe would diminish the presence of less-responsible artists.

"As body piercers, we know the risks that affect public safety," he said. "We want to ensure adequate regulations are required."

Past efforts in 1997, '98 and '99 were made by the body-art community to get statewide regulations for the industry, but they failed each time.

This year, the piercing community is in agreement and united about the cause, Amundson said.

Most body art requires an invasive procedure that uses needles, disposable sharps, instruments and jewelry that can be dangerous if improperly sterilized. These risks include HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, according to Pamela Lovinger, health systems quality-assurance policy director for the state Department of Health.

Lovinger said the Health Department would likely write rules for sterilization and infection prevention for body piercers that would be similar to current rules for tattoo artists.

These procedures include hand-washing guidelines, wearing and changing gloves, using disposable needles and using disinfectants. Violation of the rules would be a misdemeanor, she said.

Tattoo parlors were regulated under legislation passed in 2001.

House Health Care Committee Chairwoman Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, said the body-piercing legislation is "piggybacking" off the success of that law.

In the Senate, Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, has proposed SB 5738, which would make it a misdemeanor to pierce a minor even with parental permission. Roach's bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a public hearing.

Christina Siderius: 360-236-8169