SB 34-TATTOOS AND BODY PIERCING CHAIRMAN MACKIE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee meeting to order at 1:43 p.m. and announced SB 34 to be up for consideration. SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, sponsor of SB 34, said this isn't the most compelling issue this session, but to one family in his district it is important. They contacted him because their child was infected by a scam artist who was engaged in tattooing and body piercing in the Anchorage area. Senator Ellis found that there is no licensure or regulation of this growing industry in Alaska. This bill proposes minimal licensure and regulation standards and fees from the industry are proposed to cover the cost to the State. SENATOR ELLIS said the bill proposes to add a new member the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers and Cosmetology. There are less than 20 practitioners in Alaska now who have said this really needs to be done. There are no schools for this kind of training in Alaska and they are proposing an apprenticeship with a licensed practitioner in the CS. There would be a student license for a six month period. They have changed the apprentice requirement from 350 hours to 75 hours based on current common practice in other states. CHAIRMAN MACKIE asked what the fees would be. SENATOR ELLIS said it is about a $100 annual license fee for all the folks. He said the legitimate practitioners support this bill; and it is a legitimate concern to get rid of the bad actors, some of which are victimizing young people. CHAIRMAN MACKIE asked him to explain the effective date. SENATOR ELLIS responded that they wanted a delayed effective date so there would be time to gear up and give notice requirements. Number 125 SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt the Lauterbach version H to SB 34. There were no objections and it was so ordered. MS. CATHERINE REARDON, Director, Division of Occupational Licensing, supported SB 34. She said her staff would be providing support to the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers who would be administering this program. The fee structure makes costs and fees equal for all the professions within the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It is very similar language to what went into the Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Board when the landscape architects were added. Right now the fee is $100, but that could go up or down. Since the fiscal note would be different for the CS, they will prepare a new one if they pass it out. SENATOR LEMAN asked if she was sure the current professionals covered under this Board would accept the cost shifting that would take place in the first year. MS. REARDON said the Board certainly understood that. SENATOR LEMAN asked if she was satisfied that the costs for these 20 people would be fairly minimal. MS. REARDON answered that she thought the cost for the first two years would be in the $10 range. She thought most of them would come in under the grandfathering provision in the first two years. Number 180 SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass CSSB 34(L&C) from committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.