CALIFORNIA
The ITA and California Indoor Tanning Trade Organization (CITTO) experienced
a small victory with Assembly Bill 105. Representatives for the ITA recently
received word from Assemblyman Lieu that he is withdrawing the lobby warning
signage provision of the bill, and accepted the group’s suggestions differentiating
UV tanning from sunless. ITA representatives are continuing to work on the
bill’s most controversial element – the proposed ban on tanning for anyone
under 16. The bill continues to remain in the Judiciary Committee, and a
public hearing was scheduled for March 27. California salon owners wishing
to get involved are urged to contact the ITA at 202.367.1142 or Craig Joyner,
CITTO President, at 415.409.8267, and for more information about the bill
and how to get involved, log onto www.CITTO.org.
COLORADO
The ITA is happy to report a recent victory in Colorado. The group’s representatives
were able to convince lawmakers to amend Bill S-23 to require parental consent
for tanners under 18, and the bill passed Senate and is pending in the House
where its fate is uncertain. While a parental consent requirement may still
pass, it is also possible the bill will die in the House. S-23 started out
as an under-18 ban but was amended after a strenuous lobbying effort spearheaded
by the ITA, with the help of numerous CO salon professionals.
CONNECTICUT
An unnumbered bill proposed by the state’s Attorney General seeks to ban
tanning for those under 16. As a stand-alone bill, it is dead for 2007,
but the ITA warns it could return as an amendment added to other legislation.
The organization reports the same of CT S 883, a bill that proposed salon
registration and regulation requirements. Another significant victory for
the industry.
GEORGIA
In Georgia, the Bill H.Res 425, was referred to a study committee to assess
the need for restrictions.
INDIANA
The ITA reports a victory there with the death of S-288 in committee. The
bill would’ve included the department of health in oversight and regulation
of the tanning industry.
MARYLAND
HB 887, authored by Delegate Healey, a bill calling for an under-14 ban
and requiring parental consent each time 14-18, was recently defeated in
committee. An identical bill, S. 964 is still pending in the Senate. There
are also two proposed revenue-raising bills - HB 448 and HB 1022 - that
seek to tax personal services, including tanning salons. The ITA and MD
salon owner Jim Wint are in the process of organizing other MD salon pros
to combat the bills. Those interested in getting involved are encouraged
to contact Wint at 410.674.6615 or by e-mail at electricbeach@verizon.net.
The ITA urges all MD salon pros to take a few minutes to write or call their State Senators and Delegates and ask them to oppose S.964. If sending an email, writing a letter or calling the office, be sure to:
1) Tell your Senator you own an indoor tanning business in their district.
2) Say that running a successful small business is already difficult and expensive without a costly licensing and inspection program.
3) Tell them that decisions about whether or not teens get a suntan should be left to parents, not government.
To determine who your senators are, click on this link: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/07leg/html/gaco.html and locate your county. Once there, click on each Delegate/Senator’s email or call the number listed. Contact any other salon in your area to spread the word about this legislation. Have your employees, friends and family call, email and write as well.
MASSACHUSETTS
Authored by Senator Timilty, MA SD 223 would require a ban on tanning for
those under 16. It has recently been referred to Committee. The ITA urges
MA tanning salons pros to write or call their State Senators and Delegates
regarding SD 223. When doing so, please remember to 1) Tell your Representative
and Senator you own an indoor tanning business in their district. 2) Say
that Massachusetts is already strictly regulated so further restrictions
will unnecessarily hurt small business. 3) Tell them that decisions about
whether or not teens get a suntan should be left to parents, not government.
To determine who your delegates and senators are, click on this link:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm and find your town. Once there, click
on each Delegate/Senator’s email or call the number listed. Contact any
other salon in your area and spread the word about this legislation. Have
your employees, friends and family call, email and write as well.
MICHIGAN
If MI H 4146 is passed, parental consent will be required for anyone under
18 to tan, and larger warning signs will be posted in salons. Currently,
it’s been referred to committee.
NEVADA
Lawmakers here are considering Bill AB 238, which appears to be aimed at
severely limiting teen tanning. The bill calls for banning tanning for anyone
under 14, as well as requiring parental consent for 12 sessions, and requiring
the parent to be at the salon the entire time their kids tan. The bill has
been referred to committee.
OREGON
SB 340, an under-14 ban, was recently tabled in committee but could resurface.
PENNSYLVANIA
Two bills have recently been introduced here, and ITA reps are already working
on them. The first is S. 406, a licensing bill that also calls for an under-14
ban and would require parental presence each time their teen tans. It has
been referred to the state’s Public Health Committee. The second proposed
bill is S. 407, which discusses penalties for salons caught violating the
rules set forth in Bill S.406.
VERMONT
A bill calling to ban tanning for those under 18 – VT H 215 – was recently
introduced. It has been referred to committee.
VIRGINIA
The ITA reports a victory in VA. The group’s amendments to Bill 1231 passed
in both the House and Senate, and it now awaits the Governor’s signature
to become law. Virginia’s Senate Bill 1231 sought to limit teen tanning.
It called for a doctor’s prescription for tanners under 14, and a parent
present at the salon for tanners under 18. After being referred to committee,
ITA’s reps in Richmond convinced the legislature to amend the bill to require
parental consent for tanners under 15. The bill passed the Senate and House
of Representatives.
WASHINGTON
In Washington, Bill 2007 WA S 5580 – which calls for salon pros to display
signage that would read, “Danger Ultraviolet Radiation. Repeated exposure
may cause skin cancer” – has died in committee.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Anti-tanning legislation is popping up all over the map, and the ITA continues
to do a great job defending your industry. That’s why both the ITA and IST
urge you to also get involved. First, if you’re operating a salon in a state
with currently pending legislation, you should contact the ITA. Second,
fighting this kind of legislation gets very expensive, so isn’t it time
you became an ITA member and supported the organization that continues to
support YOU? “We’re committed to defending the industry, but we need your
help,” said John Overstreet, ITA Executive Director. “If we don’t all pull
together, these groups will severely affect our business, and might even
over-regulate it to the point of extinction. Indoor tanning is how we all
earn a living, so it’s up to us to protect it".
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