Bill
H 3015
Allows tattoo facilities near churches, schools, or playgrounds to obtain a license if the nearby institution affirmatively objects non-objection in writing.
Note on source material
- The text you provided includes two different, unrelated legislative drafts (a South Carolina amendment concerning tattoo facility licensing and a Massachusetts bill establishing a tax return donation check‑off for a YMCA Youth & Government fund). This summary focuses on the Tattoo Facilities measure (the South Carolina §44‑34‑110 amendment) and flags the mixed materials at the end.
Purpose and intent
- To relax the statutory restriction that prevents licensing of tattoo facilities located within certain proximities of churches, schools, or playgrounds by allowing a license to be issued when those nearby institutions affirmatively state they do not object to issuance of the license.
Key provisions
- Adds a new subsection (D) to S.C. Code §44‑34‑110 with three main elements:
1. Waiver based on affirmative non‑objection — Notwithstanding existing proximity restrictions (subsection (A)), the licensing department may issue a tattoo facility license if any church, school, or playground within the defined parameters affirmatively states it does not object to issuance.
2. Applicant responsibilities — An applicant relying on this subsection must submit written statements of non‑objection from the applicable decision‑making authority:
- For a church: the church’s decision‑making body.
- For a playground: the playground owner’s decision‑making body.
- For a school: the local school district board of trustees (public), the charter school governing board, or the private school’s governing authority.
- If multiple churches, schools, or playgrounds are located within the parameters, the applicant must obtain statements from all of them.
- At renewal, a school (public, charter, or private governing authority) may withdraw its prior non‑objection by notifying the department.
3. Rulemaking authority — The department is authorized to promulgate regulations necessary to implement this subsection.
- Effective date: the act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Who would be affected
- Tattoo studio applicants and existing licensees seeking to locate or continue operation within statutory proximity zones around churches, schools, or playgrounds.
- Local churches, schools, and playground owners/operators, who would have formal authority to approve or object to specific licenses.
- The licensing department (the bill uses “the department”) which will administer the altered licensing standard and any implementing regulations.
- Local communities potentially impacted by tattoo facility siting decisions.
Procedural / timeline aspects (from the provided material)
- The bill text shows an effective‑upon‑approval provision.
- The provided packet includes dates indicating prefiling (12/05/2024), introduction (01/14/2025), committee referrals, and scheduled hearings in September 2025. These entries are mixed with actions from an unrelated Massachusetts bill; verify current status on the official South Carolina legislative docket for up‑to‑date procedural history.
Notes and considerations
- The change shifts power in part from a blanket distance‑based prohibition to a petition/consent model requiring affirmative statements by nearby institutions. This could streamline licensing where local institutions consent but also creates administrative burdens (collecting and tracking statements; handling renewals/withdrawals).
- The bill does not specify the exact department name (text refers generically to “the department”); the implementing agency and details (e.g., form of statements, time limits, public notice) would be clarified in agency regulations.
- Given the mixed source materials provided, confirm the authoritative bill text and status with the South Carolina General Assembly website or legislative clerk.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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