Oklahoma Senate committee approves bill to legalize, regulate tattooing

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill to legalize and regulate the tattoo industry in Oklahoma is heading to the state Senate for a vote.<br><br>A Senate committee voted 6-to-4 Monday to send the measure offered

Monday, February 16th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill to legalize and regulate the tattoo industry in Oklahoma is heading to the state Senate for a vote.

A Senate committee voted 6-to-4 Monday to send the measure offered by state Senator Frank Shurden to the full Senate. The bill calls for the state Health Department to regulate tattooing.

Shurden says the bill is needed to protect the public from health hazards associated with unregulated tattooing.

Under the bill, a person must be 18 to get a tattoo in Oklahoma, unless a parent or guardian is present for the procedure.

Oklahoma and South Carolina are the only two states where tattooing is illegal and a similar effort is under way in South Carolina to legalize the practice.