Bill proposes to ensure clean needles

Tattoo, piercing parlors would face certification

Thursday, March 2, 2006

By BEN BOTKIN

The Register-Mail

A proposed bill in the Illinois House would require tattoo and body piercing businesses to register with the health department for inspections to become certified. Under the bill, establishments would have to apply for renewal every two years.

State Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Westmont, said the legislation addresses an important health issue. Under federal law, people cannot donate blood if they were pierced or tattooed in the past 12 months at an unlicensed facility because of the risk of getting diseases like HIV and hepatitis from infected equipment.

With the new law in place, those who have recently been to a registered tattoo parlor could give blood in Illinois, Bellock said.

And with the possibility of getting disease, registration is needed, she said.

"It's an extremely good public health policy," Bellock said. "We really do need a safe and adequate blood supply in Illinois."

With 25 percent of the state's population having tattoos, Bellock said the bill would allow more blood donations.

The Knox County Health Department supports the bill, administrator Greg Chance said. With the potential of transmitting diseases, he said, registration is a good idea.

An amendment was added to the bill Wednesday that would give 75 percent of registration fees to local health departments and 25 percent to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Jim Hawk, owner of Hawk's Tattoos in Galesburg, said he doesn't think the proposal would accomplish anything, though he's not opposed to it. He described the bill as nothing more than a band-aid fix.

Underground tattoo artists who don't work in sanitary practices will continue to operate without being regulated, he said.

"It's really up to the individual operators to perform their duties in a safe and sanitary way," he said.

Hawk said people considering getting a tattoo should research all their options and educate themselves before choosing a tattoo artist.

The bill also doesn't mention how much experience a tattoo artist needs, Hawk said, adding that a two-year apprenticeship is needed.

With an inspection only every two years, he said, that doesn't guarantee that a parlor is going to be clean.

State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said the bill is a good step.

"I think it makes good sense and I support this," he said. "The intent is really to protect the health of the general public. I think anyone considering getting a tattoo would be pleased that a facility is inspected."

State Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, said he's not sure how he will vote. If it really is a serious health issue, he said, it may be needed.

But for now, Risinger wants to hear more debate.

"It wouldn't bother me to vote for it if there's really a need," he said. "Is there really a problem out there with bad needles? If that's the case, I'm for it."