Illinois has become the sixth state to ban indoor tanning for youth younger than 18 years. The bill, which was introduced earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Patrick Quinn on Aug. 15, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
"The state’s willingness to follow the examples set by the cities of Springfield and Chicago exemplifies a true commitment to protecting teens from the dangers of indoor tanning," Dr. Dirk M. Elston, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, said in a statement.
The academy said in a news release that the law is based on "significant scientific evidence that links indoor tanning to increased risk of developing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer."
Compared with previous years, 2013 has been an active year for tanning bed laws.
In a video interview earlier this month, Dr. Bruce A. Brod, the AAD’s State Policy Committee Chair, spoke about the Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to place stricter regulations on indoor tanning beds and issue stronger recommendations against their use by anyone younger than 18 years. The agency is considering the comments and may issue its final ruling by the end of 2013.
Meanwhile, in June, the Internal Revenue Service issued the final regulation on collecting a 10% tax on tanning salon receipts. The regulation was first proposed in 2010 and exempts "qualified physical fitness facilities" that offer tanning services from collecting the tax.
Groups such as the Indoor Tanning Association and the American Suntanning Association continue to lobby against the tanning ban laws.
Illinois joins California, Vermont, Oregon, Nevada, and Texas in passing age-related restrictions on the use of tanning beds. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have bans for youth under 17 years of age, while the District of Columbia and West Virginia have tanning bed bans for individuals younger than 14 years.
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