Session: State Capitol, Room 24 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2186 Fax: (907) 465-3818 Interim: 600 East Railroad Avenue Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 373-1842 Fax: (907) 373-4729

Hearing Set for Update of Tattoo Law
HB 443 Would Revise Regulations on Piercing and Body Art

(JUNEAU) - Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla/Peters Creek) announced today that his House Bill 443, aimed at revising a 2000 law setting regulations and licensing requirements for the tattoo and body piercing industry, is scheduled for hearing by the House Labor and Commerce Committee on Monday, March 25, 2002, starting at 3 p.m.

"The 2000 bill was a good piece of legislation, but it did not allow for a grace period or appeal process for missing the July 1, 2001, transitional licensing application deadline," Kohring said. "Subsequently, practitioners who were unaware of the new regulations will have to close shop. This will result in loss of income to shop owners, practitioners, shop support staff and vendors."

The practitioners who missed the deadline will have to "apprentice" under another licensed practitioner before being able to apply for a license under the new regulations. This would mean they'd have to go to work for a competitor. However, even if there were other practitioners working nearby, they would be unwilling to take on apprentices who would likely reopen their own shops immediately upon completing their required "training" time, Kohring said.

"The Legislature is not in the business of putting people out of work, but SB 34 has the unintended consequence of doing just that," Kohring said.

Kohring introduced HB 443 to extend the transitional license application deadline and the license requirement dates allowing those who missed the original deadline, many who never received the information about the new regulations, to file for their license.

Those outside of Juneau wishing to testify by teleconference should contact their local Legislative Information Office.

# # #

Attachments:

• Print Friendly Version
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 13K
  

| Rep. Kohring's Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters