§16-37-3. Registration requirements; inspections by local boards of health; posting of permit; power of local board of health to order studio to close.

(a) On or after July 1, 2001, any body piercing studio in West Virginia shall obtain a West Virginia business registration certificate and shall register with the local board of health, request an inspection of the facility, and obtain an operating permit before engaging in the business of body piercing.

(b) Each local board of health shall conduct annual inspections of body piercing studios to determine compliance with this article.

(c) Upon a determination by the board that the body piercing studio is in compliance with the provisions of this article, the board shall issue to the body piercing studio an operating permit, which shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the body piercing studio, clearly visible to the general public.

(d) Upon a determination by the board that any body piercing studio is not in compliance with the provisions of this article, or the rules promulgated hereunder, the board may order the body piercing studio to cease operations until such time as the board determines that the body piercing studio is in compliance.

(e) Nothing in this article may be construed as prohibiting any health care provider licensed under chapter thirty of this code from performing any action within the scope of his or her practice, or as restricting the lawful practice of medicine or surgery in this state.