AN ACT establishing an annual bloodborne pathogen training requirement for tattooists.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 130A‑283 reads as rewritten:

§ 130A‑283.  Tattooing regulated.

(a)        Definition. – As used in this Part, the term tattooing means the inserting of permanent markings or coloration, or the producing of scars, upon or under human skin through puncturing by use of a needle or any other method.

(b)        Prohibited Practice. Tattooing Permit Required; Exemptions. – No person shall engage in tattooing without first obtaining a tattooing permit from the Department. Licensed physicians, as well as physician assistants and nurse practitioners working under the supervision of a licensed physician, who perform tattooing within the normal course of their professional practice are exempt from the requirements of this Part.

(c)        Application. Permit Application. – To Any person seeking to obtain a tattooing permit, a person must permit shall apply to the Department. Department on forms prescribed by the Department. Upon receipt of the application, the Department, acting through the local health department, shall (i) verify that the applicant has completed the bloodborne pathogen training required by subsection (c1) of this section and (ii) inspect the premises, instruments, utensils, equipment, and procedures of the applicant to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for a tattooing permit set by the Commission. If the applicant meets these requirements, the Department shall issue a permit to the applicant. A permit is valid for one year and must be renewed annually by applying to the Department for a permit renewal.

(c1)      Annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training. – Each applicant seeking an initial or renewal tattooing permit under this section is required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department that the applicant has completed annual training in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Association's bloodborne pathogens standard set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030.

(d)       Violations. – The Department may deny an application for a an initial or renewal tattooing permit if an applicant fails to demonstrate successful completion of the bloodborne pathogen training required by subsection (c1) of this section or does not meet the requirements set by the Commission for the permit. The Department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit if it finds that tattooing is being performed in violation of this Part. In accordance with G.S. 130A‑24(a), Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs appeals concerning the enforcement of this Part.

(e)        Limitation. – A permit issued pursuant to this Part does not authorize a person to remove a tattoo from the body of a human being. Compliance with this Part is not a bar to prosecution for a violation of G.S. 14‑400.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to tattooing permit applications received by the Department of Health and Human Services on or after that date.