“Tan Ban” proposal voted down

SPRINGFIELD — Teenagers younger than 18 still will be allowed to tan at salons, after a House committee dismissed a proposal Wednesday that would have banned anyone 17 and younger from doing so.

Rep. Robyn Gabel, an Evanston Democrat and sponsor of the measure, said tanning at a young age could have serious health risks. She said people who begin tanning regularly before they turn 35 are 75 percent more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma.

Illinois law allows for teenagers as young as 14 to use tanning beds with parents’ consent.

The proposal was voted down 6-4.

“I think the main opposition was just that people felt they were regulated enough,” Gabel said.

Gabel, former executive director for the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, said support also may be lacking because the awareness of the serious health risks tanning causes young people is so new. The American Academy of Pediatrics published findings on the subject a few days ago.

Gabel said she understands the legislative process can take a while and plans on pursuing the issue down the road.

“Normally they say it takes three years to pass a good bill here in the legislature, so this is year one,” she said. “But I hope this may be one of those bills where in two months people will start to see the significance.”