Politics & Government

Teen Tanning Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

The state Senate approves a bill authored by Sen. Ted Lieu that would ban all minors from using indoor tanning beds—it now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.

A bill that would make it illegal for teens under 18 to use tanning beds now has been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for his signature.

State Sen. Ted Lieu, a Democrat whose district includes Hermosa Beach, proposed the law, which has already passed the state Senate and Assembly. 

The bill would be the first in the country to ban minors from using tanning beds. Children 14 and younger already are banned.

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"Scientific research has shown conclusively that tanning beds cause skin cancer," Lieu said in a statement Friday. "The younger kids are when they start using tanning beds, the greater the cumulative damage to their skin and the more likely they are to die of skin cancer."

Thirty states have restrictions on teen tanning as well as several European countries, including France and England. Brazil has banned tanning beds for all ages.

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But here in California, some business owners in agreement with the Indoor Tanning Association, have rallied against this measure.

The association has claimed that the industry is already over-regulated, and the new law would hurt business as minors make up about 5 to 10 percent of a tanning salon's clientele.

The association also has argued publicly that the decision whether to allow a teen to suntan indoors should be the right of parents.

Brown has until Oct. 9 to act on the bill. If he signs it into law, the measure would take effect Jan. 1.

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