Committee approves salon tanning ban for Iowa minors

DES MOINES - A proposed ban on tanning by minors at commercial salons was approved Tuesday by a committee of Iowa lawmakers.

Iowans less than 18 years old would not be permitted to tan at commercial salons under the measure that is now eligible for debate by the full Iowa House. To become law, it must be approved by that body, the Iowa Senate and Gov. Terry Branstad.

Similar proposals were introduced in 2013 and 2014. This year's effort is not opposed by any interest groups.

More than 100 advocates were at the Capitol on Tuesday to encourage lawmakers to support the ban.

'I think there's more public awareness this year. I think there's a greater interest from the lawmakers to do something. They're seeing it being a bigger issue,” said Jen Schulte, Iowa's director of government relations for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network.

Research shows overexposure to the ultraviolet light in tanning beds at a young age greatly increases the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. People who use tanning beds before the age of 35 increase their chances of getting skin cancer nearly 60 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

An amendment that would have allowed an exception for 16- and 17-year-olds with parental consent was narrowly defeated Tuesday.

Rep. Ken Rizer, R-Cedar Rapids, who introduced the amendment, said it would have allowed for personal choices by older teenagers and their parents. He listed a number of activities that are legal for 16- and 17-year-old Iowans to engage in, including driving, hunting, owning a gun and getting married with parental consent.

'I don't see how tanning is any more dangerous than any of those other activities that we already allow 16- and 17-year olds to do, in some cases with parental consent,” Rizer said. He said the amendment would have made the bill 'more palatable” to House members and more likely that it would be approved and sent to the governor.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, said the dangers of tanning at such an age are too serious to allow, even with parental consent. She said the activities Rizer listed also can be performed safely, while tanning cannot.

'It worries me that we're giving this to parents to make decisions about giving their children skin cancer, melanoma. I don't think that's something we should be doing,” she added.

Rep. Linda Miller, R-Bettendorf, said she expects a similar discussion when the proposal is debated by the full House.

Nine states and the District of Columbia ban indoor tanning for minors, and all but nine states have some sort of restriction on minors tanning, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.