No one attending a Department of Public Health and Human Services hearing on proposed regulations for the tattooing and body piercing industry Wednesday was opposed to stricter guidelines.

In fact, several participants at the hearing suggested ways they would like to see the final document to be issued by DPHHS strengthened to protect tattoo artists, body piercing professionals and their clients.

"We have a chance now to make laws," said Weston Dent, who owns Gallery Tattoo in Billings. "We have a chance now to do this right the first time."

About 20 people attended the hearing at the DPHHS auditorium at 111 N. Sanders.

Regulations for tattoo establishments have been on the books for several years. However, they came under scrutiny in 2005 when a Montana lawmaker proposed legislation that would require owners of tattoo and body piercing businesses to obtain an annual, renewable license and subject the businesses to state inspections and regulations as authorized by DPHHS.

According to Ruth Piccone, body art program manager for the department, the main problems with the previous regulations for tattooing were that there was no provision for a licensing program, enforcement was difficult, and the regulations lacked training requirements.

Also, guidelines governing body piercing procedures were not included in the old regulations.

Piccone believes that document she compiled, and is proposing take effect as soon as possible, addresses those areas.

Under the new rules, businesses will be required to purchase licenses for $135, and must renew those annually.

In order to qualify for those licenses, tattoo artists and body piercing professionals must perform a number of tasks including attend annual training on subjects such as the control of blood-borne pathogens, pass regular health inspections and more.

Under the new rules, officials with DPHHS must inspect licensed businesses at least on an annual basis. The department will be able to impose fees for a third or subsequent follow-up inspections should a violation be identified.

Ultimately, the department can refuse to issue licenses to businesses that don't comply with the requirements, and they can cancel them.

Sections regarding sterilization techniques and other issues associated with body piercing also are included in the regulations. Businesses that pierce only ear lobes are exempt from some of the sections contained in the regulations, but must comply with equipment and jewelry sterility and hand hygiene elements.

Dent, and several other tattoo artists who testified at the hearing, said they are in favor of the new regulations as long as they are enforced uniformly across the state. He said he wants there to be real consequences for people in the industry who don't follow the rules.

"These laws have to have teeth and they have to bite back," he said.

In addition, Dent said he would like to see other forms of body modification -- such as implants -- included in the rules. He said it's only a matter of time before the practice of body modification takes hold in Montana, and the state should be proactive about the issue.

Other comments included concerns about how regularly training would be made available through the state to people in the industry, what types of gloves would be acceptable to use, and more.

Hamilton cosmetologist Janet Bierer said she supports cleanliness standards and continuing education in the industry -- she says she's a stickler about that at her business, Red's Hair Studio and Nail Salon. However, she is less certain about whether cosmetologists who pierce ears should fall into the same category as tattoo artists and body piercing professionals in terms of licensing requirements.

Bierer explained that most cosmetologists charge between $10 and $12 per piercing, and given the number of piercings many of them perform on an annual basis, it may not be cost-effective for them to continue to provide the service.

She said she also has concerns about upper lobe piercings being included in the regulations. She said piercing the upper lobe is a far cry from piercing someone's navel, lip or other body parts.

"(The state) has used the tattooing industry to pass an ear piercing law," Bierer said.

Bierer added that she doesn't think DPHHS properly informed members of the cosmetology industry about how the new regulations would affect them, and they should actively seek out feedback from that group.

Piccone said the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists was notified of the changes, and was charged with passing the information on to its members.

According to Piccone, comments gathered at Wednesday's hearing will be compiled, reviewed by staff attorneys, and included in the regulations if appropriate.

She hopes the regulations will take effect early next year.