Assembly Bill Prohibits Children Younger Than Age 18 From Using Tanning Booths

Assembly members on Thursday voted 42-26 to approve a bill (AB 2193) that would prohibit people younger than age 18 from using indoor tanning booths without a prescription from a doctor, the Sacramento Bee reports. Under the bill, tanning salon owners would be fined $2,500 per day for allowing minors to tan in their facilities. Current state law prohibits children younger than age 14 from using tanning booths unless accompanied by a parent. Individuals between ages 14 and 18 years old may tan only with a permission slip from a parent, according to the Bee (Sanders, Sacramento Bee, 5/21). Officials from the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, which supports the legislation, say tanning salons are partly responsible for the one million instances of skin cancer diagnosed yearly and the 7,400 deaths each year from melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer (Wasserman, AP/San Diego Union Tribune, 5/21). Assembly member Joe Nation (D-San Rafael), who proposed the legislation, said, "I think it is the proper role of government to minimize the exposure of kids to known carcinogens." He added, "I think it's incumbent on us to protect the most vulnerable, and kids are clearly the most vulnerable" (Sacramento Bee, 5/21). Assembly member Ray Haynes (R-Temecula) said, "If this bill passes, it proves there's no part of somebody's life this Legislature won't stick its nose into." The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. To become law, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) must sign the legislation by Sept. 30 (AP/San Diego Union Tribune, 5/21).