Two Democrats from Long Island – Sen. Craig Johnson and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (a “veteran lifeguard”) – are pushing a bill to ban New Yorkers under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning facilities in the state. The ban comes on the heels of previous legislation which instated a parental permission requirement for tanners ages 14 to 18. Among the new bill’s concerns is the mention of tanning addiction.
The Indoor Tanning Association has dubbed the bill the "New York Teen Tan Ban." Executive Director John Overstreet cites a philosophical concern with the legislation, mentioning the conflict between parental rights and excessive government involvement. Beyond that, there are the obvious concerns about the negative impact on the industry as a whole. Currently, there are no other statewide under-18 tanning bans in the U.S.
The potential legislation is moving along the established channels, being reviewed in the Senate Health Committee and the Assembly Code Committee.
Salon owners based in New York are urged to visit the ITA's Web site, www.theita.com, to send e-mails to the legislature. There is also a link for salon customers to use.
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