LRB-0699/1
MED:eev:jm
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
December 16, 2013 - Introduced by Senator Lehman, cosponsored by
Representatives Berceau and A. Ott. Referred to Committee on Health and
Human Services.
SB450,1,5 1An Act to repeal 252.23 (3) and 252.24 (3); to renumber 252.23 (1) (a); to
2amend
252.23 (title), 252.23 (2), 252.23 (4) (a), 252.23 (4m), 252.24 (2), 252.24
3(4) (a), 252.24 (4m), 252.241 (1) and 252.245 (9); and to create 252.23 (1) (ag),
4252.23 (3c) to (3r), 252.24 (1) (d) and 252.24 (3c) to (3r) of the statutes; relating
5to:
regulation of tattooing and body piercing.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) must provide for
uniform statewide licensing and regulation of tattooists and body piercers
(collectively, body art practitioners) and of tattoo and body-piercing establishments
(collectively, body art establishments). Current law prohibits a person from, with
limited exceptions, tattooing or attempting to tattoo another, designating or
representing himself or herself as a tattooist, or using or assuming the title
"tattooist" unless the person is licensed by DHS or a local health department
designated as DHS's agent (local health department). Likewise, current law
prohibits a person from, with limited exceptions, piercing the body of or attempting
to pierce the body of another, designating or representing himself or herself as a body
piercer, or using or assuming the title "body piercer" unless the person is licensed by
DHS or a local health department. Current law requires DHS to promulgate rules
pertaining to body art practitioners and body art establishments, including rules
setting standards and procedures for the annual issuance of licenses and rules
setting standards for: a) the performance of tattooing and body piercing by licensed

body art practitioners and b) the maintenance of licensed body art establishments
that will promote safe and adequate care and treatment for individuals who receive
tattoos or body piercings and eliminate or greatly reduce the danger of exposure on
the part of these individuals to communicable disease or infection. This bill retains
the foregoing prohibitions and DHS's rule-making authority regarding body art
practitioners and establishments, but adds a number of provisions pertaining to the
regulation and licensing of body art practitioners and establishments.
The bill includes the following provisions with respect to body art practitioners:
1. The bill provides that, in order to obtain a body art practitioner license, a
person must: a) be at least 18 years old; b) pay a licensure fee; c) provide proof of
having completed, in the 36 months before applying for a license, coursework
approved by DHS on bloodborne pathogens, the prevention of disease transmission,
infection control, and aseptic technique; and d) provide proof of having at least 200
hours of experience gained under the supervision of a licensed tattooist or body
piercer, depending on which license the person is seeking. The requirements
specified in c) and d) for an initial body art practitioner license, however, do not apply
to an individual who was licensed as a body art practitioner on the bill's effective
date. In addition, the bill allows DHS or a local health department to waive the
requirements specified in c) and d) for an individual who is licensed in another
jurisdiction with licensure requirements that meet or exceed those under the bill.
2. The bill allows DHS to grant a training license to an individual who lacks
the required 200 hours of supervised experience but who otherwise satisfies the
requirements for licensure as a body art practitioner, if the individual provides DHS
or a local health department with a signed letter from a licensed body art practitioner
who holds the same license the applicant is seeking, stating that the applicant will
be training in one or more licensed tattoo or body-piercing establishments with one
or more licensed tattooists or body piercers, as applicable, in order to obtain the
required hours of supervised experience. An individual possessing a tattooist or body
piercer training license may, under the bill, perform tattooing or body piercing only
under the supervision of a licensed tattooist or body piercer, whichever is applicable.
A training license may, under the bill, be renewed only one time.
3. The bill provides that a body art practitioner license may be renewed by
submitting to DHS or a local health department a renewal application; the required
fee; and proof of having completed, in the 36 months preceding the renewal date,
coursework approved by DHS on bloodborne pathogens, the prevention of disease
transmission, infection control, and aseptic technique.
The bill also adds a number of provisions pertaining to the regulation and
licensing of body art establishments, including requiring an individual applying for
a license to operate a body art establishment to: a) provide certain information about
the establishment, including the establishment's location and the names of all
owners and operators; and b) submit to an inspection of the establishment to ensure
that it meets applicable requirements.
The bill requires every body art practitioner to keep a record of each patron he
or she serves at a body art establishment, which must include the patron's and body
art practitioner's names, the patron's address, documentation of the patron's age and

consent, and any adverse effects that arose during the procedure. The bill requires
each record to be retained for a minimum of two years.
Finally, the bill gives DHS and local health departments the authority to
revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a body art practitioner's or body art
establishment's license for certain specified reasons and for any violation of laws,
rules, or ordinances regulating body art practitioners and establishments.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB450,1 1Section 1. 252.23 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB450,3,2 2252.23 (title) Regulation of tattooists and tattoo establishments.
SB450,2 3Section 2. 252.23 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 252.23 (1) (ar).
SB450,3 4Section 3. 252.23 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
SB450,3,65 252.23 (1) (ag) "Local health department" means a local health department
6that is designated as the department's agent under s. 252.245.
SB450,4 7Section 4. 252.23 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB450,3,148 252.23 (2) Department; duty. Except as provided in ss. 250.041 and 252.241,
9the department shall provide uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of
10tattooists and uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of tattoo establishments
11under this section. The department or a local health department shall inspect a
12tattoo establishment once before issuing a license for the tattoo establishment under
13this section and may make additional inspections that the department or local health
14department
determines are necessary.
SB450,5 15Section 5. 252.23 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
SB450,6 16Section 6. 252.23 (3c) to (3r) of the statutes are created to read:
SB450,4,3
1252.23 (3c) Tattooists. (a)   Use of title. No person may designate or represent
2himself or herself as a tattooist or use or assume the title "tattooist" unless the person
3is licensed under par. (c) 1. by the department or by a local health department.
SB450,4,64 (b) License required to practice. 1. Except as provided in sub. (5), no person may
5tattoo or attempt to tattoo another unless the person is licensed under par. (c) 1. or
64. by the department or by a local health department.
SB450,4,97 2. An individual licensed under par. (c) 4. may only tattoo or attempt to tattoo
8another while training under the supervision of a tattooist licensed under par. (c) 1.
9in a tattoo establishment licensed under sub. (3g) (b).
SB450,4,1210 (c) Requirements for license. 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the department or
11a local health department may grant a license to act as a tattooist to an applicant who
12applies for a license and satisfies all of the following requirements:
SB450,4,1313 a. The applicant is at least 18 years old.
SB450,4,1414 b. The applicant pays the required fee.
SB450,4,1815 c. The applicant provides proof that he or she has, in the 36 months preceding
16the application date, completed coursework approved by the department on
17bloodborne pathogens, the prevention of disease transmission, infection control, and
18aseptic technique.
SB450,4,2019 d. The applicant provides proof that he or she has at least 200 hours of
20experience gained under the supervision of one or more licensed tattooists.
SB450,4,2221 2. The requirements under subd. 1. c. and d. do not apply to an individual who
22possessed a tattooist license under s. 252.23 (3), 2011 stats., on April 1, 2015.
SB450,5,323 3. The department or local health department may waive the requirements
24under subd. 1. c. and d. for an applicant who provides evidence to the department or
25local health department that he or she is licensed, certified, or registered as a

1tattooist in another jurisdiction that has standards for licensure, certification, or
2registration that meet or exceed the requirements under subd. 1. and that he or she
3is in good standing in that jurisdiction.
SB450,5,104 4. The department or a local health department may grant a training license
5to an applicant who satisfies the requirements under subd. 1. a. to c. and provides
6to the department or local health department a signed letter from a tattooist licensed
7under subd. 1. that the applicant will be training in one or more tattoo
8establishments licensed under sub. (3g) (b) with one or more tattooists who are
9licensed under subd. 1. in order to achieve the experience requirement under subd.
101. d.
SB450,5,1511 (d) Term and renewal of license. 1. Except as provided in sub. (3m), a license
12issued under par. (c) 1. or 4. is valid until the next June 30, except that, if the license
13is issued between April 1 and June 30, the license is valid until June 30 of the
14following year. A license renewed under subd. 2. is valid for one year following the
15expiration date.
SB450,5,2016 2. A person may renew a license issued under par. (c) 1. or 4. by submitting to
17the department or a local health department a renewal application; the required fee;
18and proof of having completed, in the 36 months preceding the renewal date,
19coursework approved by the department on bloodborne pathogens, the prevention of
20disease transmission, infection control, and aseptic technique.
SB450,5,2121 3. A license issued under par. (c) 4. may only be renewed once.
SB450,5,24 22(3g) Tattoo establishments. (a) Operation. No person may operate a tattoo
23establishment unless the tattoo establishment is licensed under par. (b) by the
24department or by a local health department.
SB450,6,3
1(b) Requirements for license. The department or a local health department may
2grant a license to operate a tattoo establishment to an applicant who applies for a
3license if all of the following requirements are satisfied:
SB450,6,64 1. The applicant provides a description of the tattoo establishment, including
5the names of all owners and operators, the location of the tattoo establishment, and
6any other information required by the department or the local health department.
SB450,6,77 2. The applicant pays the required fee.
SB450,6,108 3. The department or a local health department conducts an inspection of the
9tattoo establishment to ensure that the tattoo establishment meets the requirements
10under this section.
SB450,6,1511 (c) Term and renewal of license. 1. Except as provided in sub. (3m), a license
12issued under par. (b) is valid until the next June 30, except that, if the license is
13issued between April 1 and June 30, the license is valid until June 30 of the following
14year. A license renewed under subd. 2. is valid for one year following the expiration
15date.
SB450,6,1716 2. A person may renew a license issued under par. (b) by submitting a renewal
17application to the department or a local health department with the required fee.
SB450,6,20 18(3m) Discipline against license holders. (a) The department or a local health
19department may take any of the following actions against a person holding a license
20under sub. (3c) or (3g) for any of the reasons specified in par. (b) or (c):
SB450,6,2121 1. Refuse to renew a license.
SB450,6,2222 2. Suspend a license for a period not exceeding one year.
SB450,6,2323 3. Revoke a license.
SB450,7,3
1(b) The department or a local health department may take action under par.
2(a) against a person holding a license issued under sub. (3c) for any of the following
3reasons:
SB450,7,44 1. The person fails to keep patron records, as required under sub. (3r).
SB450,7,75 2. Any violation of, or any failure to comply with a requirement of, this section
6or s. 252.245 or rules, regulations, or ordinances promulgated, adopted, or enacted
7under this section or s. 252.245.
SB450,7,108 (c) The department or a local health department may take action under par. (a)
9against a person holding a license issued under sub. (3g) for any of the following
10reasons:
SB450,7,1211 1. The person fails to ensure that patron records are kept, as required under
12sub. (3r).
SB450,7,1313 2. A failure to permit an inspection.
SB450,7,1514 3. There is evidence that unlicensed individuals have performed tattooing in
15a tattoo establishment.
SB450,7,1716 4. Any other reason, as determined by the department or local health
17department, relating to the sanitary or safety conditions of a tattoo establishment.
SB450,7,2018 5. Any violation of, or any failure to comply with a requirement of, this section
19or s. 252.245 or rules, regulations, or ordinances promulgated, adopted, or enacted
20under this section or s. 252.245.
SB450,7,25 21(3r) Records. Every tattooist shall keep a record of each patron served by the
22tattooist at a tattoo establishment. A patron's record shall include the patron's name,
23address, documentation of the patron's age and consent, the name of the tattooist,
24and any adverse effects that arose while tattooing the patron. A patron's record shall
25be retained for a minimum of 2 years.
SB450,7
1Section 7. 252.23 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB450,8,72 252.23 (4) (a) Except as provided in ss. 250.041 and 252.241 and subject to sub.
3(4m), standards and procedures, including fee payment to offset the cost of licensing
4tattooists and tattoo establishments, for the annual issuance of licenses as tattooists
5or as tattoo establishments to applicants under this section. The department may
6not promulgate a rule that imposes a fee for a license under sub. (3) (3c) or (3g) on
7an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44.
SB450,8 8Section 8. 252.23 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB450,8,179 252.23 (4m) Military experience. Any relevant education, training,
10instruction, or other experience that an applicant has obtained in connection with
11military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying standards
12related to education, training, instruction, or other experience for issuing a license
13as a tattooist if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department or
14local health department
that the education, training, instruction, or other
15experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service
16is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other
17experience that is required for the issuance of a license for a tattooist.
SB450,9 18Section 9. 252.24 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB450,8,2019 252.24 (1) (d) "Local health department" means a local health department that
20is designated as the department's agent under s. 252.245.
SB450,10 21Section 10. 252.24 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB450,9,422 252.24 (2) Department; duty. Except as provided in ss. 250.041 and 252.241,
23the department shall provide uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of body
24piercers and uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of body-piercing
25establishments under this section. The department or a local health department

1shall inspect a body-piercing establishment once before issuing a license for the
2body-piercing establishment under this section and may make additional
3inspections that the department or local health department determines are
4necessary.
SB450,11 5Section 11. 252.24 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
SB450,12 6Section 12. 252.24 (3c) to (3r) of the statutes are created to read:
SB450,9,107 252.24 (3c) Body piercers. (a)   Use of title. No person may designate or
8represent himself or herself as a body piercer or use or assume the title "body piercer"
9unless the person is licensed under par. (c) 1. by the department or by a local health
10department.
SB450,9,1311 (b) License required to practice. 1. Except as provided in sub. (5), no person may
12pierce the body of or attempt to pierce the body of another unless the person is
13licensed under par. (c) 1. or 4. by the department or by a local health department.
SB450,9,1714 2. An individual licensed under par. (c) 4. may only pierce the body of or attempt
15to pierce the body of another while training under the supervision of a body piercer
16licensed under par. (c) 1. in a body-piercing establishment licensed under sub. (3g)
17(b).
SB450,9,2018 (c) Requirements for license. 1. Subject to subds. 2. and 3., the department or
19a local health department may grant a license to act as a body piercer to an applicant
20who applies for a license and satisfies all of the following requirements:
SB450,9,2121 a. The applicant is at least 18 years old.
SB450,9,2222 b. The applicant pays the required fee.
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