Since its inception more than seven years ago, the ITA 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, IST teams up with the ITA to keep you updated about proposed regulation, and encourage you to get involved.
by John P. Ribner
California
AB 105 –under-18 ban, passed the House and the first Senate hearing was scheduled for July 9, 2007. The ITA is working hard to stop this bill.
Colorado
S-23 – requires doctor’s prescription for anyone under 18; status – referred to committee; reported out of committee; amended by full Senate to require parental consent under 18; passed Senate; failed to pass House. Victory!
Connecticut
(1) Unnumbered bill proposed by the attorney general; under-16 ban to be introduced; dead for 2007 as a stand-alone bill, but could be added as an amendment other legislation. Victory!(2) CT S 883 – registration and regulation requirements; status – referred to committee; dead for 2007 as a stand-alone bill, but could be added as an amendment other legislation. Victory!
Georgia
H.Res 425 – study committee to assess the need for restrictions. Referred to committee. Passed House. Committee to meet this summer.
Indiana
S-288 – would include the department of health in oversight and regulation of the industry; status – referred to committee; died in Committee. Victory!
Maryland
(1) HB 887 under-14 ban; licensing and inspections; referred to committee; Economic Matters Committee hearing March 15. Died in Committee. Victory!(2) SB 964 Under-14 ban; licensing and inspections; Rules Committee hearing March 20; Died in Committee. Victory!
Massachusetts
MA SD 223 – under-16 ban; comments given by industry veterans Jerry Frank (Cosmedico) and Dr. Michael F. Holick at June 13 hearing.
Michigan
H 4146 – parental consent required for anyone under 18; larger warning signs to be posted in store. Status: referred to committee.
Mississippi
H-957 – under-14 ban, parental consent good for only 30 days; died in committee. Victory!
Nevada
AB 238 – under-14 ban, parental consent for 12 sessions, parent has to be stay the entire time; referred to committee; hearing March 28; died in the House. Victory!
North Dakota
HB-1154 – under16 ban; status, hearing, reported out of committee with recommended amendment to make it an under 14 ban; amended to parental consent for all persons under the age of 18; passed House and Senate. Victory!Ohio
HB 230 – under-18 ban; referred to Committee.
Oregon
SB 340 – under-14 ban; status: referred to committee; tabled in Committee but could resurface. Victory!
Pennsylvania
S. 406: licensing bill, under-14 ban; parent present each time; referred to Public Health Committee.
S. 407: Penalties for S.406
South Dakota
S 208: Under-18 ban; status – referred to committee; defeated in committee; resurrected in committee; amended to parental consent under 18; defeated in Senate. Victory!
Utah
SB 52: Parent present each visit for minors under 18; status – committee hearing: amended to require parent to come once each year; passed Senate; referred to committee in House; reported from committee and passed House. Victory!
Vermont
VT H 215: Under-18 ban; status – referred to committee; legislature adjourned without taking action. Victory!
Virginia
SB 1231: Doctor’s prescription for under-14, parent present for under-18; status – referred to committee; amended to require parental consent under 15; passed Senate and House. Victory!
Washington
2007 WA S 5580: Warning signs that read “Danger Ultraviolet Radiation. Repeated exposure may cause skin cancer;” status – referred to committee; died in committee. Victory!
Strength in Numbers
As you can see, 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 get involved. First, if you’re a tanning operator living in a state with current, pending legislation, you should contact the ITA and get involved.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 against this type of legislation, 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.”
Tanning Facilities Set Record Straight at Legislative Hearing
Legislation will overburden small business owners and over regulate industryBoston University Doctor Testifies: Sensible, Moderate Sun Exposure is Key Element for Overall Good Health
BOSTON – Proposed legislation to over regulate tanning facilities in Massachusetts was the focus of a hearing before the Committee on Public Health on June 13. Senate Bill No. 1329 seeks to add additional regulations to an already safe and heavily regulated industry that provides a controlled and safe environment allowing individuals to receive the benefits of ultraviolet light while minimizing their risk of sunburn.
Dr. Michael Holick, one of the nation’s leading experts on Vitamin D and a Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University, advocates for sensible moderate exposure to sunlight as a key element in over all good health and testified at the hearing today. “Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in this country,” stated Dr. Holick. “Adequate sun exposure in the earlier years of life will help guard against several major chronic diseases in adulthood such as diabetes, several forms of cancer and multiple sclerosis,” he added.
A recent study by Holick’s laboratory revealed that healthy adults who frequented a tanning salon at least once a week had healthy levels of Vitamin D at the end of the winter when compared to similar adults who often took a multivitamin but had insufficient levels of Vitamin D.
Many tanning salons are small businesses, which are struggling with the excessive regulations already, placed upon them by federal and state government. “Together, these regulations make Massachusetts tanning salons some of the most heavily regulated in the country,” said Steve Going, Owner of Sun City Tanning Salon in Worcester, MA. “We provide a controlled environment where people can get all the benefits of ultraviolet light while minimizing the risk,” he added.
For example, the Food and Drug Administration requires the use of protective eyewear; maximum interval timers, and strict limits on the output of tanning equipment. In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires parental consent for teenagers’ ages 14-17 signed in the presence of an operator; require parents to accompany minors under the age of 14; post warning signs; use proper eyewear; conduct formal training of operators; and maintain strict record keeping to name a few regulations.
Furthermore, this legislation will also overburden small business owners across the state with increased taxes and fees. The licensing fee will increase 60% from $150 - $250 with no clear indication of how the additional revenue will be used. And the proposed legislation will impose a new registration fee of $25 for each employee. This is in addition to the costs tanning salon owners already face to train employees to meet the existing regulations.
“ The small business owners who make their living in the indoor tanning industry are like entrepreneurs in other industries; many of them have risked everything to create a better life for their families,” said Jerry Frank, a member of the Board of Directors of the Indoor Tanning Association. “However, unlike the typical small business, the majority of indoor tanning salons are owned and operated by women and that is something of which we are quite proud. To add more unnecessary fees and regulations that will unfairly and disproportionately affect women small business owners is completely unwarranted,” Frank added.
About the Indoor Tanning Association – Founded in 1999, the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) today represents thousands of indoor tanning manufacturers, distributors, facility owners and members from other support industries. The professional indoor tanning industry employs more than 160,000 people and generates an economic impact of more than $5 billion annually while promoting a responsible message about moderate tanning and sunburn prevention. For more information on indoor tanning please visit www.theita.com.
