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Article published Apr 29, 2004
Tattooing bill hits snag in committee

JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- After 10 years, Sen. William Mescher finally got a bill ending the state's ban on tattooing through the House and Senate.But he said Wednesday he will abandon the bill he sponsored unless a conference committee drops an amendment giving local governments more control over tattooing.Lawmakers also disagreed on age limits for tattoos. The House version requires anyone age 18 to 21 to get their parents' permission before getting a tattoo. The Senate's bill does not.The six-member committee agreed to work on a compromise and meet again to try to hash out the differences in the bill.South Carolina and Oklahoma are the only states where tattooing is illegal. Oklahoma lawmakers last month voted down a measure that would have legalized tattooing there.Wednesday's hearing wasn't the typical dark suit and blouse Statehouse hearing. About a dozen people, tattoos ranging from prominent on their arms to peeking out from their sleeves listened intently to the debate.Most of them groaned when another delay in passing the bill was announced.Mescher, who has fought for the bill for most of his Senate career, had two main complaints on the version the House passed."A young man coming home from war with medals and ribbons on his chest shouldn't have to get his mommy to write a note," said Mescher, R-Pinopolis.But Mescher didn't threaten to kill the bill until the committee got to the amendment giving local governments more control. He says it goes too far.Sen. Phil Leventis said he supported the proposal, because he said counties should be able to regulate tattoos any way they want, including banning them, rather than having lawmakers in Columbia dictate the regulations."It's humorous the Democrats should have to tell the Republicans that Columbia does not know best," said Leventis, D-Sumter.The committee did agree that tattoo artists should use disposable tools. Both the Senate and House versions also agreed on training and regulations for anyone who gives a tattoo.Two of the three House and Senate members must agree for the bill to get out of the committee and move on to the House and Senate for final approval.Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, decided to give the members time to work out their differences. Most of the lawmakers seemed confident the bill could be saved.Mescher is not so sure."We've been talking about this 10 years," he said. "A week is not going to make a difference."