Assigned to FS FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2124
tattooing; body piercing; minors

Purpose

To prohibit minors under the age of 14 from acquiring a tattoo and establish other health and safety protections for persons acquiring tattoos.

Background

Laws 1996, chapter 222 established a class six felony penalty for a person who tattoos a minor under the age of 18 without the physical presence of the minor's parent or guardian.

H.B. 2124 rewrites this law, maintaining the requirement that a parent accompany a minor acquiring a tattoo who is 14 to 17 years of age but prohibits the tattooing of a minor under the age of 14. The bill also establishes several other provisions designed to protect the health and safety of a person acquiring a tattoo.

Provisions

1. Repeals the law that classifies the tattooing of a minor without the physical presence of the minor's parent or legal guardian as a class 6 felony.

2. Prohibits the tattooing or piercing of a minor under the age of 14.

3. Specifies that the prohibition on piercing a minor under the age of 14 does not apply to ear piercing or other procedures prescribed by a health care provider.

4. Prohibits the tattooing or piercing of a minor who is 14 to 17 years of age without the physical presence of the minor's parent or guardian.

5. Specifies that it is unlawful for a person who tattoos or pierces another person to use a needle or ink more than once or to use a needle that is not presterilized or autoclaved.

6. Prohibits a person who is not a licensed health care provider to administer anesthesia during tattooing or piercing procedures.

7. Establishes as a defense that a person requested age identification and relied in good faith on the accuracy of the information.

FACT SHEET H.B. 2124 Page

8. Classifies all offenses established in this section as a class 1 misdemeanor.

9. Defines "tattoo" for purposes of this section.

10. Provides a general effective date.

House Action

GRSR DP 9-0-1-1

Health DPA 11-0-0-0

3rd Read 51-7-2-0

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 17, 1997

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