Regulatory & Legislative Issues

HB 957 died in committee and included among other things an act to prohibit the use of tanning devices by children under age 14 and require a consent form (good for 30 days) signed in the presence of an operator for minors between ages 14 and 18.

AB 238 sought a number of changes including a ban of tanners under age 14, parental consent for 12 sessions and parents to be present at the salon during a minor’s entire tanning session.

SB 340 sought to prohibit minors age 14 or younger from using a tanning device. The bill was referred to Health Policy and Public Affairs for a Public Hearing and Work Session, where it was tabled; it could resurface, however.

SB 208 would have required that no customer under age 18 be permitted to use the tanning facility, require a written warning statement, and mandate that a trained operator be present at the tanning facility during operating hours. The bill died in the Health and Human Services Committee.

S 5580 would have required additional warning signs. The bill died in committee.

The indoor tanning industry has a tough road ahead fighting multimillion-dollar public relations firms touting the so-called evils of tanning. It must band together as an intelligent, unified voice and spread the Good News about moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to sunlight. This is the only way to take the ammunition out of the hands of the anti-tanning coalition.

Salon owners and operators need to pay close attention to proposed regulation changes at all levels—not only to make sure that compliance is met, but also to ensure a voice in the process. These proposals of additions or changes to regulations at the local, county and state level are multiplying at an alarming rate, especially with regard to teen tanning. It is critically important for indoor tanning professionals to be active in working together to keep watch of such tanning regulations.

Monitoring indoor tanning rules and regulations that begin at the local level is an enormous undertaking—which is the primary reason why the industry must band together to do so.

New laws are not always initiated through a traditional state agency, which adds to the challenges of tracking proposed rules. A range of departments including offices of cosmetology, radiation safety, health and consumer affairs oversee today’s active tanning rules.

Tanning critics will continue to target our industry; however, they can be countered largely by the mounting studies favoring sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to light in a controlled atmosphere. The ITA and many salon operators are doing their best to fight state tanning legislations, but they need the help of more salon owners willing to step up to the plate and help at the local level.