Hearing Scheduled For Ohio HB 230

Ohio HB 230, which seeks to amend state regulations currently requiring parental consent for tanners under age 18 to completely disallow minors to tan unless they provide a medical prescription for ultraviolet radiation treatments, is scheduled to be heard by the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Oct. 23.

At this hearing, only the supporters of the bill will have an opportunity to testify. If the committee decides to take further action, there will be another hearing scheduled, during which opponents will be able to present their case.

The Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) continues to work hard to defeat the bill. To date, more than 700 people have accessed the ITA’s pre-formatted letter of opposition and e-mailed a copy to the legislature. However, because the hearing is drawing near, the ITA is urging Ohio tanning proponents to send postal letters and make personal phone calls to the committee members in addition to e-mail efforts.

If you are in the area represented by any of the following committee members, please contact them before Tuesday: Tom Brinkman, Jr. (Chairman), Joseph Uecker (Vice Chair), John Adams, Thom Collier, Courtney Combs, Jim Hughes, W. Scott Oelslager, Kenny Yuko, Jennifer Brady, Dan Stewart, L. George Distel, Vernon Sykes and Matt Szollosi.

When calling, please state who you are and where your business is located, and explain that the bill will negatively affect jobs and tax revenue in Ohio. Also state that the Ohio indoor tanning industry already is subject to stringent state and federal regulations, and ask the representative to vote “no” on HB 230. If you can follow up with a brief letter or fax on your company’s stationery, that also would be helpful. Finally, the ITA asks that you contact them regarding any response you receive.

HB 230 was introduced to the Ohio House of Representatives by State Rep. Courtney Combs, and is co-sponsored by State Reps. Jim McGregor, Edna Brown, Danny Bubp, Diana Fessler, Robert Otterman, Eugene Miller and John Domenick.

The Hamilton City Council first proposed the under-18 ban in September 2006, citing data from doctors linking skin cancer to excessive ultraviolet radiation exposure early in life. In October, the city council decided to table the issue and leave the matter up to state legislators amidst arguments from parents that such a measure would restrict the parental right to make decisions for one’s children.

Combs then picked up the bill and worked with Hamilton dermatologist Louis Barich to draft HB 230.