Some Florida tattoo artist may be joining the unemployment line if the proposed Senate Bill 1130 gets passed. The bill, proposed by Senator Eleanor Sobel and the Florida Professional Tattoo Artist Guild (FPTAG) was filed February 2nd, 2009.

The FPTAG held a meeting in Orlando with tattooist from around the state to discuss the bill and its contents, get input from the tattoo community and make any needed changes. The meeting was held on February 16th, exactly 12 days after the bill had already been filed. This did not sit well with the majority of tattoo community.

Many currently licensed business owners are worried that they will be forced out of business because they do not currently meet some of the proposals in this bill. Such as, proving that they have been in business for a minimum of 5 years and be able to prove it with either Federal Income Tax filings or past business licenses. They would also need to obtain written recommendations from 5 other professionals in the business. This can prove difficult because the recommendations would most like have to come from competitors.

Another issue Florida artist are concerned with is illegal tattooing and public health concerns. The proposed regulations would promote an increase in these activities creating an increased risk for public health. Currently, all Florida tattooists must be under the supervision of a licensed medical physician. The bill if passed would shift these duties to the public health departments thus increasing the workload for the already understaffed departments which may increase the burden to taxpayers.

The FPTAG’s president William Hannong owner of Cadillac Tattoo Studio in Fort Myers says that everyone is over reacting and that existing tattoo establishments will be grandfathered in, but the bill’s current wording seems to prove otherwise. Hundreds of tattoo artist from around the state have voiced their opinions online and are appalled with the FPTAG for misrepresenting the industry as a whole. The FPTAG membership is currently around 45 members and 5 board members.

Stevie Moon of StevieMoon.com Tattoo has spearheaded a campaign against the bill. Tattoo artist and enthusiast have been flooding the Florida State Senators with emails, phone calls and written letters opposing the proposed bill. Calls to Senator Sobel’s office proved fruitless as information is limited and she is not returning calls.

Senator Sobel is also facing opposition from Florida Tanning Salons on Senate Bill 0546 which regulates a minimum age for tanning in a salon, stating that she is promoting public fear to advance the sales of her skin care products. She is President of Emrelle Cosmetics, Ltd., a skin care products company which sells moisturizers and other skin care products.

More information, including a complete copy of the proposed legislation is available online at: http://sb1130.linkgen.net