ETS Tanning Bed Blog

Some lawmakers in Delaware would like to see kids getting their parents’ permission to use tanning salons. A bill sponsored by Sen. Bethany Hall-Long would not allow teens 14 to 17 to use indoor tanning salons unless they had a consent form signed by a parent or guardian in the presence of a tanning facility operator. Those under the age of 14 would be totally prohibited from using tanning salons, unless medically prescribed by a doctor.

Delaware is following in the footsteps of Ohio lawmakers who already require parental consent for teen tanners ages 13 to 17. But now that state is considering even tighter restrictions.

Proposed law would regulate teens' right to tan more rigidly than their right to marry, drive a car, and join the military

(Reprinted from the Indoor Tanning Association press release )
WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) denounced House Bill 173, which would require Ohioans under the age of 18 to get a prescription from a doctor before using a sun-bed. Inexplicably, the bill also applies to spray tanning .

John Overstreet, executive director of the ITA issued the following statement regarding the bill:

"It is inconsistent and illogical for a teen in Ohio to be forced to have a prescription from a doctor before they could use a tanning bed.

At 17 an Ohio teen can serve and die for his or her country by joining the military. At 16 an Ohio teen is entrusted with the ability to operate a motor vehicle entirely unsupervised by a doctor or parent. 16- and 17-year-olds in the state can even get married as long as a parent consents.

It defies common sense that an Ohio parent could send their son or daughter off to war, drive the dangerous Ohio highways, or navigate the murky emotional waters of marriage -- but has to get a doctor's note before they can tan.

It is already standard practice to get written parental consent before a teen can use a tanning bed. A parent can decide whether or not it's ok for their teen to tan. Not the Ohio legislature."

Overstreet also noted that tanning salons in Ohio are already among the most highly regulated in the country.

The Indoor Tanning Association represents thousands of indoor tanning manufacturers, distributors, facility owners and members from other support industries. The ITA promotes a responsible message about moderate tanning and sunburn prevention.

SOURCE Indoor Tanning Association

To learn more about legislation in your state, contact your local government or visit the Indoor Tanning Association website.

First Texas, now Arkansas.

Arkansas, like Texas, is one of more than a dozen states considering such bills. Texas also has bills that go a step further and require a doctor's note.

Currently, Texas is seeking approval on House Bill (HB) 1310, which restricts teens younger than 18 from using indoor tanning equipment.

While the politicians of Texas are pondering that law, Arkansas lawmakers are also working to restrict teen tanning. Governor Mike Beebe says he plans to sign a bill requiring salon owners to get waivers signed by parents for clients under 18.

After solving the economic crisis, immigration issue, and all crimes and poverty, the Texas legislation is now considering a bill to make it harder for Texas teens to use tanning beds . Supporters of the bill have compared its importance to the law which makes it illegal for teens to buy cigarettes.

Naturally, this bill is getting a strong reaction from both sides--the ones trying to enforce the law and the ones against it, the teens and not surprisingly, the tanning salon owners.

House Bill 1310 seeks to restrict teens younger than 18 from using tanning equipment in Texas without written consent from a doctor. The bill was introduced by Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, after he became concerned about skin cancer among minors, according to the Lufkin Daily News. Current Texas law states children under 13 need to have a doctor's permission prior to tanning and anyone age 15 or younger must have a parent present in the salon while the child is tanning.

Evidently Rep. Solomons has been listening to doctors at M.D. Anderson, who claim that keeping kids away from tanning beds is a potentially life-saving idea much like keeping them from purchasing cigarettes.

"I can't imagine a good reason a teenager needs to be in a tanning bed. The truth is there isn't a good benefit and there is lots of potential harm, for teenagers using tanning beds," said Dr. Hughes.

In addition to Texas, Florida, Hawaii and 16 other states are considering laws similar to HB 1310. Proposals would ban teens from tanning salons or require them to get notes from their parents or doctors.

But personal rights advocates and parents are concerned about the government telling them how to raise their children. One Florida Republican said parents should have the discretion--not states.

"I gotta tell you, you cannot regulate everything in this world," said Florida senator Mike Bennett (R), who voted against the bill in Florida. "I suppose we could say the same thing and outlaw tanning on the beach."

Persuading teens to stop tanning could be a hard sell as many are concerned about physical appearances at that age. Also independence comes into question and a law like this would take away more freedoms – something teens value as they assert themselves in the world.

If a bill like this does pass, where would it end? Tobacco and alcohol are certainly understandable as both have conclusively proven to be a major hazard on human health, but the jury is still out on tanning beds. Despite some doctors' claims, there are others who say there is no major proof that tanning beds are dangerous. Furthermore, some experts are beginning to show the connection between vitamin D deficiencies and all sorts of health conditions (like this, this, and this)

There are other, more dangerous things teens do, like skateboarding, participating in contact sports like football, wrestling, gymnastics and lacrosse, hunting, working on farms or factories and driving.

It's important that Texas politicians know all the facts and consider everything before voting on such a bill.

To learn more about legislation in your state, contact your local government or visit the Indoor Tanning Association website.