State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) introduced Senate Bill 2244 last week, which would prohibit minors age 17 and younger from using tanning beds. Currently minors 14–17 are allowed to tan with their parent's approval. However, Radogno's legislation would remove that authority and replace it with state regulation.
“Just as we don’t give children the option to smoke, they shouldn’t be allowed to tan indoors,” Radogno said. “The light from indoor tanning beds is considered a Class 1 carcinogen," which some medical experts believe increases the risk of cancer.
Some other state have laws regulating tanning by minors, but only two - California and Vermont - have outright bans. It is unclear how the government plans to enforce the new regulation, or how it will prevent people from tanning outside, which can cause cancer.
