Section 420. Grounds for license or certificate revocation, suspension or probation; denial of application, renew

A. The board may, in considering the totality of the circumstances, fine any licensee or certificate holder and suspend, place on probation or revoke or refuse to renew or reinstate any license or certificate, or deny any application issued under the provisions of Chapter 7 (§ 54.1-700 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and the regulations of the board if the board finds that:

1. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant is incompetent, negligent in practice, or incapable mentally or physically, as those terms are generally understood in the profession, to practice as a tattooer, limited term tattooer, tattooer apprentice, permanent cosmetic tattooer, or master permanent cosmetic tattooer;

2. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant is convicted of fraud or deceit in the practice of tattooing;

3. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant obtained, attempted to obtain, renewed or reinstated a license by false or fraudulent representation;

4. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant violates or induces others to violate, or cooperates with others in violating, any of the provisions of this chapter or Chapter 7 (§ 54.1-700 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia or any local ordinance or regulation governing standards of health and sanitation of the establishment in which tattooers may practice or offer to practice;

5. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant fails to produce, upon request or demand of the board or any of its agents, any document, book, record, or copy thereof in a licensee's or owner's possession or maintained in accordance with this chapter;

6. A licensee or certificate holder fails to notify the board of a change of name or address in writing within 30 days of the change for each and every license. The board shall not be responsible for the licensee's or certificate holder's failure to receive notices, communications and correspondence caused by the licensees' or certificate holder's failure to promptly notify the board in writing of any change of name or address or for any other reason beyond the control of the board;

7. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant publishes or causes to be published any advertisement that is false, deceptive, or misleading;

8. The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant fails to notify the board in writing within 30 days of the suspension, revocation, or surrender of a license or certificate in connection with a disciplinary action in any other jurisdiction or of any license or certificate that has been the subject of disciplinary action in any other jurisdiction; or

9. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, the licensee or certificate holder has been convicted in any jurisdiction of a misdemeanor or felony that directly relates to the profession of tattooing. The board shall have the authority to determine, based upon all the information available, including the regulant's record of prior convictions, if the regulant is unfit or unsuited to engage in the profession of tattooing or permanent cosmetic tattooing. The board will decide each case by taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section. The applicant shall provide a certified copy of a final order, decree or case decision by a court or regulatory agency with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree or case decision, and such copy shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction. This record shall be forwarded by the applicant to the board within 10 days after all appeal rights have expired.

B. In addition to subsection A of this section, the board may, in considering the totality of the circumstances, revoke, suspend, place on probation or refuse to renew or reinstate the license of any tattoo parlor, limited term tattoo parlor, or permanent cosmetic tattoo salon or impose a fine as permitted by law, or both, if the board finds that:

1. The owner or operator of the tattoo parlor, limited term tattoo parlor, or permanent cosmetic tattoo salon fails to comply with the facility requirements of tattoo parlors, limited term tattoo parlors, or permanent cosmetic tattoo salons provided for in this chapter or in any local ordinances; or

2. The owner or operator allows a person who has not obtained a license to practice as a tattooer, limited term tattooer, permanent cosmetic tattooer, or master permanent cosmetic tattooer unless the person is duly enrolled as an apprentice.

C. In addition to subsection A of this section, the board may, in considering the totality of the circumstances, revoke, suspend, place on probation, or refuse to renew or reinstate the license of any school or impose a fine as permitted by law, or both, if the board finds that:

1. An instructor of the approved school fails to teach the curriculum as provided for in this chapter;

2. The owner or director of the approved school permits or allows a person to teach in the school without a current tattooing instructor certificate; or

3. The instructor, owner or director is guilty of fraud or deceit in the teaching of tattooing.

D. In addition to subsection A of this section, the board may, in considering the totality of the circumstances, revoke, suspend, place on probation, or refuse to renew or reinstate the license of any licensee or impose a fine as permitted by law, or both, if the board finds that the licensee fails to take sufficient measures to prevent transmission of communicable or infectious diseases or fails to comply with any local, state or federal law or regulation governing the standards of health and sanitation for the practice of tattooing.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. October 1, 2006.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.