Debate heats up over body piercing measures

Debate heats up over body piercing measures

By Jennifer Byrd
Associate Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. - With large flame-like earrings, an intricate nose
piercing and visible tattoos, Troy Amudson is an unlikely lobbyist.

A professional body piercer at Apocalypse Tattoo and Piercing in
Seattle, Amudson has been leading a fight to have the state regulate
his industry to make it more legitimate and protect public health.

Lawmakers are considering several bills this session that would
regulate body piercers and tattoo artists and restrict minors from
getting piercings "on certain sensitive parts."

Amudson said most body piercers and tattoo artists follow strict
sterilization procedures, but "unfortunately, there are people who get
into this strictly for the money with little care for their client's
health."

"Some kind of legislation would help make it more professional."

The state health department currently requires sterilization of
needles and instruments used by tattoo artists, but there are no
similar rules for body piercing. Amudson supports a pair of bills that
would establish these requirements for body piercers.

But some argue such measures give only an appearance of regulation.

Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, has sponsored a much stricter bill that
would require piercers and tattoo artists to register with the
Department of Licensing. The department would work with the health
department to develop rules and then would have the authority to
investigate complaints and publish information about violations.

"I think most people in Washington state would be shocked if they knew
there were no state regulations or licensing requirements for the
commercial body piercing industry," Kastama said.

The bill would create a new office in the licensing department, which
would cost around $2 million. Kastama said all of that would be paid
for by permits issued to tattoo artists and body piercers.

Kitty Candelaria, executive director of the Manchester-based National
Hepatitis C Institute, said without enforcement, sterilization
standards don't mean anything. She said Hepatitis C is often
transmitted through tattoos and piercing.

"For too long, an industry that has left its mark on so many has been
allowed to operate with so little government oversight," Candelaria
said.

But Amudson and other piercers oppose Kastama's measure, saying it
would require them to report sensitive information about their clients
to a state agency and make medical diagnoses - possibly opening them
up to charges of practicing medicine without a license.

"I'm one who personally supports some sort of licensing and
registration program," Amudson said. "But we need to be cautious how
we go about it."

He supports identical bills sponsored by Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-
Poulsbo, and Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, that call for the Department
of Health to develop rules based on precautions recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control. Body piercers who violated such rules
would be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Last session, the House passed Appleton's bill and the Senate passed
Kastama's bill, but neither reached Gov. Chris Gregoire's desk.

"I think the red herring in this entire debate is that I just want
enforcement," Kastama said.

Appleton said her bill does have enforcement measures and that she
hoped with Murray sponsoring her version of the bill in the Senate, it
has a shot of possibly becoming law this year.

"Everybody understands the regulation needs to be there," Appleton
said.

The House Committee on Health Care and Wellness has passed Appleton's
bill, although the Senate version hasn't had a hearing yet.

The Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee held a
hearing on Kastama's bill, but hasn't taken action on it.

There are also proposals to ban piercing for minors.

One measure, also sponsored by Appleton, would ban body piercing
"below the neck on certain sensitive parts of the body" on minors.
Appleton said she doesn't expect that bill to advance this session.

Another measure is sponsored by Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn. It bans body
piercing on minors unless a parent or legal guardian provides consent
in writing. It wouldn't include piercing of an earlobe. Roach has
introduced the bill in past sessions, but it has never gained enough
momentum to land on the governor's desk.

Roach called some piercings in sensitive areas dangerous.

"It's dark, damp and wet places where infections occur," she said,
adding that moisture in the mouth, nose and genitalia are all places
that parents should be concerned about.

Roach said she thought the measure would help protect minors and it
"gives parents some footing to say 'why don't you wait?'"

At Metro Piercing in Olympia, 18-year-olds Chyrl Clark and Kristin
Dunbar, both of Yelm, said they thought 18 was reasonable age limit
for genitalia piercings.

"When you're little you'd do crazy things and not even think about
it," said Clark, who was waiting to have her nipples pierced.

Dunbar, who said she has 12 piercings, including her tongue, has never
gotten an infection.

"I'm young now and I want to do things while I want to before it's too
late," she said. "You can always take a piercing out."

Appleton's regulation bill is HB 1383. Her other bill is HB 1700.
Kastama's bill is SB 5180. Murray's bill is SB 5860. Roach's bill is
SB 5820.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov

The National Hepatitis C Institute: http://www.nationalhepatitiscinstitute.org/

Apocalypse Tattoo and Piercing: http://apocalypsetattoo.com/

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Curt