(a)  The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which provide minimum requirements to be met by any person performing tattooing and/or body piercing upon any individual and for any establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed. These requirements shall include, but not be limited to, general sanitation of premises wherein tattooing and/or body piercing is to be performed and sterilization of instruments. These rules and regulations shall place emphasis on the prevention of disease, specifically including, but not limited to, transmission of hepatitis B and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-1-39

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  In addition, these rules and regulations shall establish procedures for registration with the department of health of all persons performing tattooing and/or body piercing, for registration of any establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed, for regular inspections of premises where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed, for revocation of the registration of any person or establishment deemed in violation of the rules and regulations promulgated under this section. An annual registration fee in the amount as set forth in § 23-1-54 shall be paid by any person or establishment registered to perform tattooing and/or body piercing under this section. All fees shall be deposited by the department as general revenues.

(c)  Body piercing of a minor is prohibited; provided, however, that body piercing will be allowed if the minor is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, and the parent or guardian gives consent to the body piercing.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 354, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 164, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 58; P.L. 1999, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 14, § 28; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 39, § 25; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 9, § 35.