Ark. Senate votes to restrict body art procedures

The Arkansas Senate has voted to ban body art procedures that involve inserting objects under the skin or purposely scarring people scarring people.

By a 26-4 vote, the Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that bans body art procedures known as dermal implanting and scarification. The measure now heads to the House for a vote.

The legislation defines dermal implanting as the insertion of an object under the skin for decoration or ornamentation. It defines scarification as the injury of the skin involving scratching, etching, or cutting of designs to produce a scar someone for ornamentation or decoration.

The measure has faced opposition from tattoo and body piercing shop owners who say the restrictions go too far.