MANKATO, Minn. -
A bill making its way through the Minnesota Senate would ban minors from going to the tanning salon.
The language is fairly straightforward - USE BY MINORS PROHIBITED.
Senate File number 816 makes no qualms about its meaning - ban on indoor tanning by people under the age of 18.
Well, there are a few caveats.
Apartments and homes are exempt, and nowhere does it limit tanning beds at gyms, a now popular spot for tanning during the winter cold.
Electric Beach's Cynthia Frederick says, "I don't know if this is another attempt from a legislative standpoint to again try to control our industry, try to shut our industry down. I guess you'll have to ask the lawmakers that."
Frederick's establishment already requires parental permission for those 16 and under, and parental supervision for those under 15.
She says it's the parent's rights at issue here, and has no problem with other aspects of the bill.
Frederick says, "I personally do not have a problem with stronger legislation, stronger controls on indoor tanning. As I showed you with our paperwork, we are very much ahead of the game. We've been posting all the warning signs that this new bill is asking for. We've been doing this for 7 years."
Despite all of that. Frederick isn't worried. It seems this is actually a pet issue at the Capitol, which has enjoyed little success in the past.
Frederick says, "There has been a bill proposed in the House for a very long time. It comes up for conversation and then it gets shut down."
