Until now, tanning salons have been able to run rather unregulated and have been able to target high-schoolers desiring a year-round bronzed look to impress their peers.  Things are about to change as Utah Senate Bill 41, also known as the “Teen Tanning Bill” passed the House with a 39-32 vote and now simply awaits Governor Gary Herbert’s signature before it becomes law.

Previous regulation required teens to have their parents write a letter of consent to the tanning salon once a year but this frequently was unenforced and basically ignored by the Utah tanning industry.  According to the bill’s sponsor,  Rep. Brad Wilson of Kaysville, since they were not held accountable, parents were often unaware of how often their teens were frequenting tanning establishments.

The long exposure to UV rays inherent in the beds used for tanning has been linked to causing melanoma and is cause for alarm across the country, especially in Utah.  According to the World Health Organization, melanoma is the second highest cause of cancer among 15 to 29-year-olds in Utah. Per capita, Utah also has the fourth highest amount of melanoma cases.

The newly passed law mandates that parents accompany their children under 18 years old to all tanning salon visits.  The bill could become official as soon as the end of this week when Governor Herbert signs it into law.