The Iowa Senate passed a bill 26-23 Tuesday which would ban persons under the age of 18 from using tanning devices.

The proposal is a result of concerns about a possible link between tanning and skin cancer. Some cancer survivors have expressed support for the measure. Democrats and Republicans voted on both sides of the issue.

Senate File 232 is now on its way to the House, where similar legislation is already under consideration.

Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, attempted to amend the bill to allow parents or guardians to give permission to their children ages 16 and 17 to use tanning devices.

Chelgren said if minors were not allowed to use public tanning facilities, they can tan at home without oversight by purchasing a tanning bed on Cragslist or a number of similar websites.

The tanning industry, which has not opposed the legislation, claims persons 17 and under represent only about 2 percent of people who visit indoor tanning businesses. 

The bill was supported by the Iowa Medical Society, the Iowa Nurses Association, the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, the Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and several other medical groups.