Mississippi Code of 1972
TITLE 73 PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS
CHAPTER 61 TATTOOING AND BODY PIERCING
73-61-1. Tattooing.
(1) No person shall place a tattoo> upon the body of a human for
compensation within the State of Mississippi without first
registering with the State Department of Health. The facility or
premises in which <tattooing> is to be performed shall be specified
in the registration, and the registered person shall be
authorized to perform <tattooing> only in the specified facility or
premises. For the purposes of this section, "<tattooing>" means to
make indelible marks or designs on or visible through the skin of
a human by puncturing or pricking the skin with a needle or other
instrument and inserting ink or other pigments, and "<tattoo>"
means the indelible mark or design so produced. Registrations
shall be valid for one (1) year, and each person registered under
this section shall pay an annual registration fee to the
department in an amount set by the department, but not to exceed
One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00), which fee shall be uniform
for all registered persons.
(2) The State Board of Health shall promulgate rules and
regulations relating to:
(a) Health, cleanliness and general sanitation of the
facilities or premises in which <tattooing> is performed or to be
performed;
(b) Sterilization of <tattooing> apparatus and safe disposal of
<tattooing> apparatus;
(c) Procedures to prevent the transmission of disease or
infection during or relating to <tattooing> procedures,
specifically including, but not limited to, transmission of
Hepatitis B and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and
(d) Such other administrative provisions as may be necessary
to protect public health or properly administer the requirements
of this section.
(3) Representatives of the department may visit any facility or
premises in which <tattooing> is performed at any time during
business hours to ensure compliance with the requirements of this
section and the rules and regulations promulgated under this
section. Representatives of the department shall visit each
facility or premises in which <tattooing> is performed not less
than once each year to inspect for such compliance. The
department may suspend or revoke the registration of any person
found to be violating any of the rules or regulations promulgated
under this section.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to place a <tattoo> upon
the body of any person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
(5) Any person who places a <tattoo> upon the body of a human for
compensation without first registering with the department or
after his registration has been suspended or revoked, by the
department, or any person who places a <tattoo> upon the body of
any person in violation of subsection (4) of this section, is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished
by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more
than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
(6) The department is authorized to bring an action for an
injunction under the provisions of Sections 73-51-1 through
73-51-5 to prohibit any person who is required to be registered
under this section from performing <tattooing without first
registering with the department or after his registration has
been suspended or revoked by the department.
(7) This section shall not apply to physicians licensed to
practice medicine in Mississippi in the performance of their
professional duties.
SOURCES: Laws, 1994, ch. 342, §§ 1, eff from and after July 1,
1994.
Source: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/index.cfm/11,142,82,60,pdf
