Background checks for tattoo artists and those who perform tongue and genital piercings will be up for discussion Tuesday during the Teton County Public Health board meeting.

At its March meeting, the board introduced a draft of possible rules it was considering to regulate tattoo and piercings businesses in the county.

Several artists and the owner of Jackson business Sub-Urban Tattoo were there to applaud efforts to keep the industry safe but also offer criticism about several proposed rules, including banning tongue and genital piercings and requiring background checks for artists. They said the piercings could be done in a safe way and should be allowed for consenting adults and that background checks were discriminatory because they aren’t required of other industries, such as restaurants.

All of the recommendations were recorded and will be looked at individually during Tuesday’s meeting, Public Health Manager Terri Gregory said.

She expects the board will discuss each recommendation and vote whether to add it to the document that will make up the regulations. Gregory said the final vote to approve the regulations probably won’t happen until the board’s May meeting because there are so many comments to consider and that with amendments to the original drafted rules there probably will be significant changes.

The board meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Public Health building.