Senate approves bill to set tattoo, piercing standards

OLYMPIA — Three days after the House passed a measure to regulate body piercers, state senators unanimously approved a bill Monday that would clamp down on Washington's tattoo and piercing industry.

"This issue has been brought up over the years, and it's to the point that the Legislature has to make sure some regulations are in place, and that there's some enforcement in those regulations," said Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup.

Under the proposal, body artists and cosmetologists must abide by the sterilization standards laid out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the infection precautions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the health guidelines set by the National Environmental Health Association and the Alliance of Professional Tattooists.

Additionally, artists must report any infections or allergic reactions to the Department of Licensing. The state cosmetology board would regulate the industry.

"This is not a time to put suggestive guidelines out with no enforcement," Kastama said.

But Troy Amundson, a body artist from Apocalypse Tattoo in Seattle, said the regulations were "premature." Piercing, tattooing and scarification are nothing like cosmetic procedures, he said.

"We're interested in licensing somewhere down the road, but I just can't support a bill that hasn't had any input from our industry," Amundson said.