N.J. Legislature Passes AB 2936

The New Jersey Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2936 by a 76-1-2 vote on June 8. The bill, which seeks to institute statewide tanning salon restrictions for tanning salons and customers, has been sent to the Senate for consideration where an identical bill, SB 1225, is undergoing a second reading. As of today, a date has not been announced for a vote on the bill.

The bill seeks to prohibit minors under age 14 from using tanning facilities, and prohibit minors between ages 14 and 18 from using tanning facilities without the written authorization of a parent or legal guardian.

The prohibition does not apply to emancipated minors.

Previous to the passing of AB 2936, New Jersey did not have an age restriction for using tanning facilities.

The law also would require that a tanning facility operator conspicuously post a sign in the reception area stating: "PERSONS UNDER AGE 14 SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO USE THIS TANNING FACILITY. PERSONS BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO USE THIS TANNING FACILITY WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OF A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN."

Penalties for violating the provisions of this law would be the same as for other violations of N.J.S.A.26:2D-81 et seq.,--$100 for the first offense and $200 for each subsequent offense.

The law also would include technical amendments to update references to the Department of Health and Senior Services resulting from the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 001-1996, and reference to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999."

For more information on these bills or for a list of the bills' sponsors, visit http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Default.asp, or for a complete listing of Legislative hotline numbers visit http://tanningtraining.com/reginfo/numbers.html.