AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TATTOO PARLORS, BODY PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Summary
HB324 amends Title 16 of the Delaware Code to direct the Department of Health and Social Services to regulate tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments with an added human trafficking prevention component. The bill keeps the existing permitting framework for these businesses, including the $100 permit and annual renewal fee, while authorizing the Department to issue restricted or provisional permits and to suspend or revoke permits under its regulations.
The bill also requires tattoo parlors to post a visible human trafficking awareness sign and directs the Department to make available a list of nonprofit organizations that provide free online or in-person training on recognizing, responding to, and reporting signs of human trafficking. The training is intended for employees, contractors, and others working in tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments, and participants who complete it must receive a certificate. The act takes effect one year after enactment.
Impact
The bill expands the Department of Health and Social Services’ regulatory responsibilities over tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments by adding mandatory human trafficking awareness signage and training-related outreach to the existing sanitary and permitting rules in Title 16. It does not create a new licensing category, but it strengthens conditions tied to permits and business operation standards for these establishments. It also formalizes coordination with the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council and nonprofit training providers.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill, with the House passing it 39-0 on third reading. The sponsor list is bipartisan and includes multiple members from both chambers, which also indicates cross-party agreement on the bill’s purpose. No committee transcript was provided, but the unanimous vote and the bill’s public-safety framing suggest generally favorable sentiment.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available record. The main policy choice in the bill is whether tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments should be used as a point of contact for human trafficking awareness and training, and the bill answers that in the affirmative. Any potential contention would likely center on compliance burdens for small businesses, the cost and logistics of posting signs and encouraging training, and the extent to which the Department should be involved in promoting nonprofit-led training, but those concerns are not documented in the provided materials.