Politics should be important to everyone
who earns their living in the indoor tanning industry. Since its inception
more than seven years ago, the Indoor Tanning Association has stood as the
industry’s line of defense against the various state and federal governments
seeking to over-regulate indoor tanning. The group travels across the country,
working with salon pros and lobbyists to protect people’s right to tan.
Because of the importance of the organization’s work, Island Sun Times has
teamed up with the ITA to bring you this monthly column designed to keep
you updated about proposed regulation changes across the country, and encourage
tanning professionals to get involved.
Unfortunately, now is the time that salon professionals should expect to
see more anti-tanning bills, proposals and recommendations, according to
John Overstreet, ITA Executive Director. “Legislatures across the country
are reconvening after their breaks, and everything that wasn’t decided on
from the previous session carries over into the current one,” he said. “We
intend to stay on top of these issues, and we encourage salon pros to get
involved with the process, as well, which is why we encourage them to contact
us whenever these types of issues occur in their states, and to get involved
with the process of combating them at the political level.”
GEORGIA
House Bill 702 has captured the attention of the ITA. Sponsored by Rep.
Karla Drenner, HB702, if passed, would set a maximum exposure time of 15
minutes for all salons in the state. The ITA is very concerned about this
aspect of the bill, and because of it, the organization’s representatives
are working very closely on this issue. The rest of HB702 is a “basic licensing
bill,” according to Overstreet. It calls for parental consent for persons
under 18, and parents of teens under 14 must accompany their kids to the
salon if they wish to allow them to tan. The ITA has representatives working
with lawmakers to stop or alter the proposal.
KENTUCKY
In Kentucky, lawmakers are considering a bill that includes a ban on tanning
for everyone under 14, as well as establishing a licensing program for salons.
ITA representatives are working with lawmakers in that state to ensure that
no unnecessary restrictions are placed on salons.
MICHIGAN
A licensing program under the title House Bill 4580 is currently being considered
in Michigan. The bill, introduced by Representative Frank Accavitti, Jr.,
does not call for any kind of ban; rather, it would require written, informed
parental consent for all tanners under the age of 18, and would require
tanners to use eye protection. Although the ITA considers the bill relatively
straightforward, its members in the “Great Lakes State” continue to watch
it closely.
MISSISSIPPI
House Bill 1422, which was recently proposed, would ban tanning for those
under the age of 14 in Mississippi. If passed, the bill also would mandate
that tanners aged 14-18 provide a signed written parental consent every
30 days. Such consent would also require the parent to state the maximum
number of times their child is allowed to use the tanning device. The ITA
has representatives in Mississippi who are working to stop this bill, which
was authored by Representatives Stevens, Carlton, Fillingane and Upshaw.
NEW JERSEY
ITA representatives are busy in New Jersey, thanks to the recently-introduced
Assembly Bill No. 352, sponsored by Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis. The bill
requires tanning facilities to “conspicuously” post a warning notice in
each room that states the “dangers of using tanning equipment.” The notice
shall state that tanning can be hazardous to a person’s health and may cause
skin cancer and long-term eye damage. The warning would also state that
tanning has no known health benefits and prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB
light may cause damage to the skin and eyes.
NEW YORK
Although it died in session last year, proposed bill – S.2602/A5733, sponsored
by Sen. Charles J. Fushchillo, Jr. – is back again for consideration in
New York. The proposal calls for a ban on tanning for persons under the
age of 14. It also requires signed parental consent for teens age 14-17,
with the consent valid for only one calendar year.
OKLAHOMA
Authored by Senator Laughlin, Oklahoma’s Senate is considering bill 2050,
also known as the “Oklahoma Tanning Facilities Practice Act.” This bill
proposes a licensing program to be administered by the state’s department
of health. If passed, every salon in the state will have 90 days to file
for a permit to operate a tanning salon, which will cost $250. The bill
also calls for a $150 annual renewal fee for all salons. Like all proposed
bills that would affect the indoor tanning industry, the ITA is closely
watching this situation.
PENNSYLVANIA
Although HB 109 was stalled in committee when the Pennsylvania Legislature’s
2004 session ended, the ITA is sure this bill is rearing its head in 2006.
If passed, HB 109 would require tanners to provide the salon with a list
of all the medications they’re taking, and the salon employee would then
be required to determine if any of the medications are photosensitive. It
also calls for restrictions on teen tanning. If passed, the bill could:
• Require people 14 years old and younger to be accompanied by a
parent or legal guardian when using a tanning device.
• Require any person between 14 and 18 years of age to provide the tanning
facility a statement signed by the parent or legal guardian that the parent
has read and understands the warnings given by the tanning facility, consents
to the minor’s use of a tanning device and agrees that the minor will
use protective eyewear provided by the tanning facility.
• Require multiple warning signs to be posted throughout the salon, next
to every tanning unit and on the walls in each tanning room.
The ITA believes this bill is excessive and encourages all Pennsylvania
salon pros and distributors to get involved in this issue by contacting
their representatives and urging them to vote against HB 109.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
While indoor tanning’s enemies are many and powerful, this industry can
stand against them if it stands together. The ITA and IST urge all salon
owners to contact the ITA to become involved with any regulatory battles
in your state. The more people who let their voices be heard by standing
up against unfair tanning regulations, the more the lawmakers are apt
to listen. Indoor tanning is how all of us earn our living, so it’s up
to the tanning professionals to protect this industry from becoming over-regulated
to the point of extinction.
