Public Act 93-0449 HB3086 Enrolled LRB093 02203 DRJ 08161 b AN ACT in relation to criminal law. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by changing Section 12-10.1 and adding Section 12-10.2 as follows: (720 ILCS 5/12-10.1) Sec. 12-10.1. Piercing the body of a minor. (a)(1) Any person who pierces the body or oral cavity of a person under 18 years of age without written consent of a parent or legal guardian of that person commits the offense of piercing the body of a minor. Before the oral cavity of a person under 18 years of age may be pierced, the written consent form signed by the parent or legal guardian must contain a provision in substantially the following form: "I understand that the oral piercing of the tongue, lips, cheeks, or any other area of the oral cavity carries serious risk of infection or damage to the mouth and teeth, or both infection and damage to those areas, that could result but is not limited to nerve damage, numbness, and life threatening blood clots.". A person who pierces the oral cavity of a person under 18 years of age without obtaining a signed written consent form from a parent or legal guardian of the person that includes the provision describing the health risks of body piercing, violates this Section. (2) Sentence. Piercing the body of a minor is a Class C misdemeanor. (b) Definition. As used in this Section, to "pierce" means to make a hole in the body or oral cavity in order to insert or allow the insertion of any ring, hoop, stud, or other object for the purpose of ornamentation of the body. "Piercing" does not include tongue splitting as defined in Section 12-10.2. (c) Exceptions. This Section may not be construed in any way to prohibit any injection, incision, acupuncture, or similar medical or dental procedure performed by a licensed health care professional or other person authorized to perform that procedure. This Section does not prohibit ear piercing. This Section does not apply to a minor emancipated under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or the Emancipation of Mature Minors Act or by marriage. (Source: P.A. 91-412, eff. 9-5-99; 92-692, eff. 1-1-03.) (720 ILCS 5/12-10.2 new) Sec. 12-10.2. Tongue splitting. (a) In this Section, "tongue splitting" means the cutting of a human tongue into 2 or more parts. (b) A person may not perform tongue splitting on another person unless the person performing the tongue splitting is licensed to practice medicine in all its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 or licensed under the Illinois Dental Practice Act. (c) Sentence. Tongue splitting performed in violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.