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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1058
January Session, 2019
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E LICENSURE OF TATTO O TECHNICIANS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 20-266n of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 2
As used in this section and sections 20-266o to 20-266s, inclusive, as 3
amended by this act, and subsection (c) of section 19a-14: 4
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health; [.] 5
(2) "Department" means the Department of Public Health; [.] 6
(3) "Tattooing" means marking or coloring, in an indelible manner, 7
the skin of any person by pricking in coloring matter or by producing 8
scars; [.] 9
(4) "Tattoo technician" means a person who is licensed under the 10
provisions of section 20-266o, as amended by this act; [.] 11
(5) "Student tattoo technician" means a person studying tattooing 12
who is registered with the department pursuant to section 20-266o, as 13
amended by this act; [.] and 14
(6) "Supervising tattoo technician" means a tattoo technician 15
licensed pursuant to this chapter for not less than five years who is 16
responsible for the personal supervision of a student tattoo technician's 17 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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practical training and experience in tattooing. 18
Sec. 2. Section 20-266o of the general statutes is repealed and the 19
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 20
(a) [On and after July 1, 2014, no] No person shall engage in the 21
practice of tattooing unless the person is eighteen years of age or older 22
and has obtained a license or temporary permit from the Department 23
of Public Health pursuant to this section. 24
(b) [(1)] Each person seeking licensure as a tattoo technician [on or 25
before January 1, 2015,] shall [make application] apply to the 26
department on a form prescribed by the department [,] and pay an 27
application fee of two hundred fifty dollars. [and] Each applicant shall 28
present to the department satisfactory evidence that the applicant: 29
[(A)] (1) Is eighteen years of age or older; [(B)] (2) has successfully 30
completed, within the three years preceding the date of application, a 31
course on prevention of disease transmission and blood-borne 32
pathogens that complies with the standards adopted by the federal 33
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as described in 29 34
CFR 1910.1030 et seq., as amended from time to time, and that requires 35
the successful completion of a proficiency examination as part of such 36
course; [and (C)] (3) holds current certification by the American Red 37
Cross or the American Heart Association in basic first aid; and (4) 38
signs a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health 39
attesting that such person is in compliance with infection prevention 40
and control plan guidelines prescribed by the commissioner. The 41
infection prevention and control plan guidelines shall include, but 42
need not be limited to, the following: (A) Use of personal protective 43
equipment, including, but not limited to, disposable gloves, as a 44
barrier against infectious materials, (B) the practice of appropriate 45
hand hygiene including the availability of a hand-washing sink in the 46
area where the practice of tattooing occurs, (C) the decontamination 47
and sterilization, with hospital-grade cleaner, of the area or materials 48
used in the practice of tattooing, including, but not limited to, chairs, 49
armrests, tables, countertops, trays, seats, furniture and reusable 50 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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instruments that may come into contact with skin or mucosal surfaces, 51
and (D) the appropriate use of disposable equipment and the disposal 52
of sharps used during the practice of tattooing. 53
[(2) Each person seeking licensure as a tattoo technician after 54
January 1, 2015, shall, in addition to satisfying the requirements of 55
subdivision (1) of this subsection, provide documentation to the 56
department, in the form and manner required by the commissioner, of 57
having (A) completed not less than two thousand hours of practical 58
training and experience under the personal supervision and 59
instruction of a tattoo technician, or (B) practiced tattooing 60
continuously in this state for a period of not less than five years prior 61
to January 1, 2015.] 62
(c) Licenses issued under this section shall be subject to renewal 63
once every two years. A license to practice tattooing shall be renewed 64
in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88 for a fee of two 65
hundred dollars. A licensee applying for license renewal shall, as a 66
condition of license renewal, successfully complete a course on 67
prevention of disease transmission and blood-borne pathogens that 68
complies with the standards adopted by the federal Occupational 69
Safety and Health Administration, as described in 29 CFR 1910.1030 et 70
seq., as amended from time to time, and that requires the successful 71
completion of a proficiency examination as part of such course. Each 72
licensee applying for license renewal shall sign a statement attesting 73
that the licensee has successfully completed such education course 74
within the six months preceding the expiration of the license on a form 75
prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Each licensee shall 76
retain certificates of completion that demonstrate compliance with the 77
requirement for a minimum of four years after the year in which the 78
course was completed and shall submit such certificates to the 79
department for inspection not later than forty-five days after a request 80
by the department for such certificates. 81
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a physician, an 82
advanced practice registered nurse rendering service in collaboration 83 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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with a physician, a registered nurse executing the medical regimen 84
under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist or advanced 85
practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant rendering service 86
under the supervision, control and responsibility of a physician. 87
(e) No person shall use the title "tattoo technician", "tattoo artist", 88
"tattooist" or other similar titles unless the person holds a license 89
issued in accordance with this section. 90
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a 91
person may practice tattooing if such person has obtained a license or 92
temporary permit pursuant to this subsection or practices tattooing 93
temporarily in the state as an instructor or participant in an event, 94
trade show or product demonstration in accordance with the 95
provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection. 96
(1) The department may grant licensure to any person who is 97
licensed at the time of application as a tattoo technician, or as a person 98
entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in 99
another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or a 100
commonwealth or territory subject to the laws of the United States and 101
who submits evidence satisfactory to the department of (A) a current 102
license in good standing to practice tattooing from such other state, 103
commonwealth or territory, (B) documentation of licensed practice in 104
such state, commonwealth or territory for a period of at least two years 105
immediately preceding application, (C) successful completion of a 106
course on prevention of disease transmission and blood-borne 107
pathogens that complies with the standards adopted by the federal 108
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as described in 29 109
CFR 1910.1030 et seq., as amended from time to time, [and] (D) current 110
certification by the American Red Cross or the American Heart 111
Association in basic first aid, and (E) signs a form prescribed by the 112
Commissioner of Public Health attesting that such person is in 113
compliance with the infection prevention and control plan guidelines 114
prescribed by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of this 115
section. Pending approval of the application for licensure, the 116 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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commissioner may issue a temporary permit to such applicant upon 117
receipt of a completed application form, accompanied by the fee for 118
licensure, a copy of a current license from such other state, 119
commonwealth or territory and a notarized affidavit attesting that the 120
license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. Such 121
temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one 122
hundred twenty calendar days and shall not be renewable. 123
(2) The commissioner may issue a temporary permit to an applicant 124
previously licensed in Connecticut whose license has become void 125
pursuant to section 19a-88. Such applicant for a temporary permit shall 126
submit to the department a completed application form accompanied 127
by a fee of one hundred dollars, a copy of a current license in good 128
standing from another state and a notarized affidavit attesting that 129
such license is valid and belongs to the person requesting notarization. 130
A temporary permit for an applicant previously licensed in 131
Connecticut whose license has become void pursuant to section 19a-88 132
shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar 133
days and shall not be renewable. 134
(3) A person who: (A) Provides instruction on tattooing techniques; 135
or (B) participates in the demonstration of a tattooing-related product 136
or offers tattooing as part of a professional course, seminar, workshop, 137
trade show or other event, may practice tattooing for such purpose, 138
provided such person described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this 139
subdivision (i) is licensed or certified in the state, territory or 140
possession of the United States or foreign country that is the primary 141
place where such person practices tattooing if such state, territory, 142
possession or foreign country requires licensure or certification for 143
tattooing, (ii) has successfully completed a course on prevention of 144
disease transmission and blood-borne pathogens that complies with 145
the standards adopted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health 146
Administration, as described in 29 CFR 1910.1030 et seq., as amended 147
from time to time, within the preceding three years, (iii) practices 148
tattooing under the direct supervision of a tattoo technician, (iv) does 149 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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not receive compensation for tattooing, other than for providing 150
instruction or tattooing services to persons in attendance at the course, 151
seminar, workshop, trade show or event, and (v) provides instruction, 152
demonstrates tattooing techniques or offers tattooing only for persons 153
enrolled in the course, seminar or workshop or attending the trade 154
show or event at which the person provides instruction, demonstrates 155
a product or offers tattooing. Any person or organization that holds or 156
produces a course, seminar, workshop, trade show or other event at 157
which a person who is not a tattoo technician licensed in the state 158
provides tattooing instruction, participates in the demonstration of a 159
tattooing-related product or offers tattooing to persons in attendance at 160
the trade show or event shall ensure compliance with the provisions of 161
this section. 162
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 163
a student tattoo technician may practice tattooing under the personal 164
supervision of a tattoo technician for a period not to exceed two years. 165
A student tattoo technician shall (1) successfully complete a course on 166
prevention of disease transmission and blood-borne pathogens that 167
complies with the standards adopted by the federal Occupational 168
Safety and Health Administration, as described in 29 CFR 1910.1030 et 169
seq., as amended from time to time, and that requires the successful 170
completion of a proficiency examination as part of such course, (2) 171
hold current certification by the American Red Cross or the American 172
Heart Association in basic first aid, (3) obtain a notarized statement 173
signed by a supervising tattoo technician documenting completion of 174
the minimum training requirements in accordance with subsection (h) 175
of this section, and (4) register with the department for purposes of 176
completing the practical training and experience required to obtain a 177
license pursuant to this section [. An application for registration shall 178
be submitted to the department] on a form prescribed by the 179
commissioner. [and shall be accompanied by documentation that the 180
applicant (1) has successfully completed a course on prevention of 181
disease transmission and blood-borne pathogens that complies with 182
the standards adopted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health 183 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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Administration, as described in 29 CFR 1910.1030 et seq., as amended 184
from time to time, and that requires the successful completion of a 185
proficiency examination as part of such course, and (2) holds current 186
certification by the American Red Cross or the American Heart 187
Association in basic first aid. Such application shall include a notarized 188
statement signed by a tattoo technician providing that such licensee 189
acknowledges having responsibility for personally supervising the 190
applicant's practical training and experience in tattooing.] 191
(h) A supervising tattoo technician may supervise no more than two 192
student tattoo technicians and shall maintain records, for a period of 193
three years, of completing the following minimum training 194
requirements for each student tattoo technician: (1) Discussion of 195
transmission, control and symptoms of the diseases caused by blood-196
borne pathogens, (2) discussion of tasks involved in the practice of 197
tattooing and the risks of exposure to blood-borne pathogens to the 198
client and the tattoo technician during the performance of each task, 199
(3) discussion of the types and uses of personal protective equipment, 200
including an explanation of the limitations of the equipment, (4) 201
discussion of the types of tasks, proper task technique and sequence of 202
tasks before and after donning and removing personal protective 203
equipment to avoid contamination, (5) discussion of the importance of 204
hand hygiene and a demonstration of proper hand hygiene techniques, 205
(6) discussion of the options, use and storage of disinfectants and 206
antiseptics, (7) provision of information on the signage required for 207
biohazard materials and the importance of properly labeling chemicals 208
and supplies, (8) provision of information on the hepatitis B vaccine, 209
including the safety and accessibility of the vaccine, (9) discussion of 210
what constitutes a blood-borne pathogen exposure incident, including 211
(A) examples of incidences and the actions to take in preventing or 212
minimizing further exposure; (B) risks of infection following an 213
exposure incident; and (C) procedures to follow after an exposure 214
incident, including follow-up medical treatment, and (10) provision of 215
opportunities for interactive questions and answers between the 216
supervising tattoo technician and the student tattoo technician. 217 Substitute Bill No. 1058
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[(h)] (i) No license or temporary permit shall be issued under this 218
section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action 219
is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint in any 220
state or jurisdiction. 221
[(i)] (j) The Commissioner of Public Health may, in accordance with 222
chapter 54, adopt such regulations as are necessary to implement the 223
provisions of sections 20-266o to 20-266s, inclusive, as amended by this 224
act. 225
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2019 20-266n
Sec. 2 October 1, 2019 20-266o
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 2(f)(1)(E), "pursuant to subsection (b) of this section" was
added for internal consistency; in Section 2(h), "provision of" was
added to Subdivs. (7), (8) and (10) for internal consistency and "of the
vaccine" was added to Subdiv. (8) for clarity.
PH Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO