summary
Introduced
01/29/2026
01/29/2026
In Committee
02/10/2026
02/10/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Director of Corrections shall establish a 5-year pilot program in 3 institutions or facilities of the Department of Corrections to permit a committed person who has a gang tattoo to have that tattoo removed by a physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse licensed in this State or by a person who has a certificate of registration issued by the Department of Public Health under the Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act to operate a tattoo and body piercing establishment. Provides that the institutions or facilities selected by the Director shall be provided with equipment and sanitary needs to accomplish the removal of the tattoos in a safe manner, including medical-grade cosmetic laser removal equipment. Provides that a committed person in a designated pilot institution or facility of the Department who has a gang tattoo may have that tattoo removed by an authorized person. Provides that a committed person may request training as a body artist. Establishes qualifications for that training. Provides that successful completion of the program qualifies the person as a body artist after completion of the committed person's sentence. Provides that, if the balance in the committed person's Residents' Benefit Fund is $500 or more, the moneys in the Fund shall be used to pay for the committed person's gang tattoo removal. Provides that if the balance in the committed person's Residents' Benefit Fund is less than $500, the committed person shall receive the tattoo removal free of charge. Provides that the Director shall establish reasonable costs to be charged to a committed person with at least a $500 balance in the committed person' Residents' Benefit Fund who has his or her gang tattoo removed. Defines "gang tattoo" and "tattoo".
AI Summary
This bill establishes a 5-year pilot program in three Illinois Department of Corrections facilities to allow incarcerated individuals with "gang tattoos" (tattoos identified by the Director of Corrections as gang symbols) to have them removed by licensed medical professionals or registered body art practitioners, with the facilities provided with necessary equipment like medical-grade laser removal tools. The program also offers incarcerated individuals the opportunity to train as "body artists" (practitioners of body art, which includes tattooing and body piercing but excludes medical procedures and certain ear piercings) and become qualified to operate a body art establishment upon release, provided they complete the training and pass a proficiency test. The cost of tattoo removal will be covered by the incarcerated person's "Residents' Benefit Fund" (a fund for inmate savings) if it has a balance of $500 or more, with the Director setting reasonable costs, while those with less than $500 in their fund will receive the removal free of charge.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assigned to Criminal Law (on 02/10/2026)
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