Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 73 - PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS (§§ 73-1-1 — 73-79-1) › Chapter 61 - TATTOOING AND BODY PIERCING (§§ 73-61-1 — 73-61-3) › Section 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. Any increase in the fee charged by the department under this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section
41-3-65
.
(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.
Laws, 1994, ch. 342, § 1, eff. 7/1/1994.
Reenacted by Laws, 2020, ch. 473, SB 2311,§ 57, eff. 7/1/2020.
Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 510, HB 289, 57, eff. 7/1/2016, rep. 7/1/2020.