04.03.13
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed into law A2142, a new bill that prohibits those under the age of 17 from using indoor tanning beds.
The bill, which revised an earlier law governing the use of tanning facilities by minors, also bars teens up to 14-year-old from getting a spray tan.
The legislation does allow 17-year-olds to use a tanning salon if a parent or guardian accompanies them at the first visit and gives consent.
“Assembly Bill No. 2142, which I have signed today, prohibits minors under fourteen from using spray tanning procedures in tanning facilities, and further prohibits minors under seventeen from using commercial tanning beds. The bill also specifies that minors seventeen and older are permitted to use commercial tanning beds, provided that a parent or guardian is present at the tanning facility for an initial consultation,” Gov. Christie penned in a statement.
In his statement, the governor referenced an infamous NJ incident when a mother was accused of bringing her young child into a tanning bed with her—aka The Tan Mom. This new law has been called “Tan Mom Law” in some circles.
Christie’s statement included the following:
“The new restrictions imposed by this bill followed a single, but breathlessly reported, incident of a parent bringing a minor child into a tanning facility. No injuries have yet been discovered from the alleged incident and the tanning salon was fined by the New Jersey Department of Health. In all, the story evidenced both the effectiveness of our existing regulations, and the responsiveness of our regulators. Confidence in the current laws, rather than a rush to add new and perhaps unnecessary provisions, would have seemed the appropriate legislative responsive.
“Nonetheless, I sign this bill because of the documented and well-understood risks associated with misuse of indoor tanning systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overuse of indoor tanning has been associated with an increased risk for skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to UV radiation, either from sunlight or indoor tanning devices, is perhaps the most avoidable known risk factor for skin cancer. Use of tanning devices is particularly dangerous for the young, as studies indicate that individuals who begin tanning before age thirty-five have a 75% higher risk of melanoma. In all, the evidence suggests that limiting indoor tanning among minors may prevent some incidence of cancer later in life and, for that reason, I sign Assembly Bill No. 2142 into law.”