COLUMBIA--Efforts to legalize tattooing ran into a stumbling block Thursday as the S.C. House of Representatives voted to send the measure back to committee, often the death of a bill this late in the session.

But committee Chairman Rep. Joe Brown, D-Columbia, said the bill likely will be passed back to the full House by next week. "A few of the supporters of this bill were not here today. We will make sure they are here next time."

The vote to recommit the bill was 55-53.

The bill prevents people younger than 18 or those under the influence of drugs and alcohol from getting a tattoo. It also prevents tattoo artists from using needles more than once.

Artists must be certified in CPR and blood-borne pathology and have Red Cross certification. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control will train and regulate artists and can revoke licenses for violations.

Supporters say illegal tattooing leads to hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases.

"We're going to keep trying," said Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston. "It's a very important health care issue. It doesn't make sense ... to still allow folks to go into back-room alleys in the state of South Carolina."

Opponents said they were concerned the bill doesn't do enough to address concerns about zoning for tattoo parlors.

The bill's author, Sen. Bill Mescher, R-Pinopolis, said he expects any doubts regarding his bill to be addressed quickly.

"I still have hope that this is the year," he said.

South Carolina and Oklahoma are the only states that ban tattooing.