Turning away minors from the tanning salon may become the norm in Iowa. State legislators are working on this proposal due to concerns of increased risk of cancer to younger users from artificial tanning.

The proposed law would also require commercial tanning establishments to have clear warning signs about the dangers of tanning. Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, has introduced this bill in the House while Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Both bills are currently referred to subcommittees.

Heddens said the proposal was first brought to her by local dermatologists in Ames who were concerned about the effects of tanning on minors, including cancer. She added that legislators were divided on this issue.

“Some folks don’t want to do any type of regulation on any type of business. Some are looking at it as a health issue,” Heddens said.  

The bill was introduced last year in both chambers of the legislature, but did not go through the subcommittee stage. Heddens said she is not optimistic about the bill going through this legislative session.

Heddens said the bill has failed to move ahead as there are disagreements on the extent and provisions of the bill. She has not received any communication regarding concerns with the bill.

“This is an imperfect solution. Frankly, we are supporting it because we are trying to move on to a higher level conversation … The conversation has been monopolized with this issue,” said Joe Levy, executive director of Smart Tan, a training institute for tanning bed operators and advisor to the American Suntanning Association.

Levy said the legislation might push minors towards using unregulated tanning beds in health clubs, apartment complexes and other places without a professional operator.

Dermatologists and the American Suntanning Association are scheduled to testify at the subcommittee hearings this week. The first final deadline is the end of this week for all bills to go through the subcommittee stage. The bill is supported by the Academy of Family Physicians, the Medical Society and American Cancer Society Action Network and opposed by none.

Last year, the bill was opposed by the American Suntanning Association because of the exaggerated claims by those supported, Levy said. He added the organization supports the bill this year because it might end up being a good compromise.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, indoor tanning is linked with eye and skin cancers. It also notes, “Using a tanning bed is particularly dangerous for younger users; people who begin tanning younger than age 35 have a 59 percent higher risk of melanoma.” California, Illinois, Nevada, Texas and Vermont currently ban the use of tanning facilities by minors.

“I think it’s really a matter of building awareness,” Quirmbach said.  “It’s a matter of getting enough time and having legislators learn enough about in this case, the dangers of the practice. Persuasion takes some time.”

Levy said the majority of salon owners also support the new legislation and do not expect the legislation to have a lot of economic impact as minors constitute just two to three percent of clients in professional tanning salons.

He said proponents exaggerate their case when they compare tanning with tobacco or arsenic. “We recognize it is important to teach sunburn prevention to teenagers and we are willing to work with the other proponents to do that,” Levy said.

The legislation covers tanning only at commercial establishments. Quirmbach said he does not expect the proposed legislation to cover tanning at home for minors.

“There is a fairly well understood distinction between what goes on as part of commercial enterprise and what goes on in the privacy of one’s home,” Quirmbach said.

He said laws limiting access to tobacco and alcohol for minors could be seen as precedents to the proposed legislation.