New bill update

The new bill has now passed the assembly as well as the senate without any objections. It now awaits signature by Gov Cuomo to be official. READ IT!! https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2015/a8671a A couple of important details when this passes: -The original problematic bill had required a form stating that all single-use materials were to be opened in front of the client, signed by both artist and client. The corrected version now only requires the NEEDLES to be opened in front of the client, but still requires the signed form (retained at the shop for 7 years), and that a copy is handed to the client, for both tattooing and piercing procedures. Despite numerous objections to this rule, Senator Carlucci and Assemblyman Zebrowski were unwilling to budge on these particular terms. -The NYS Department of Health will be in charge of writing further regulations regarding tattoo inks, dispensing, storage, etc, and they have assured me that their new regulations will be in line with the procedures described in this petition, as well as the industry’s common practices. Things we also learned about NYS tattooing: -NYS already passed licensing requirements on a state level *several years ago*, but have yet to implemented it. This will be coming soon, meaning even unregulated counties will require licensing as soon as they get all their ducks in a row. All of these new regulations are amendments to that law, which are being slowly built before it is enforced. -According to the NYS DOH, part of licensing will require annual Bloodborne Pathogens training that is in line with federal OSHA training requirements. So now we just wait for Gov. Cuomo to sign the bill, and I will update everyone and mark the petition as RESOLVED!