by Gina Kinslow, [email protected]

GLASGOW — Members of the State Senate are considering a bill that would prohibit a person under the age of 18 from using a tanning device at a tanning facility, but provide an exemption for medical use of phototherapy devices.

Owners of one Glasgow tanning bed business, E-Z Tan Tanning on Shane Drive, say they already prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using their tanning beds, unless they have parental permission.

“Anyone who is under 18, their parents have to sign a release form for them,” said Roger Walker, owner of the business, which also has a location in Cave City. “That’s something that we require as a professional tanning salon. We’ve been doing that for years.”

The legislation that is being considered by the State Senate calls for amending Kentucky Revised Statute 217.924 to remove the reference to consent forms, which means no one under the age 18 could be allowed to use tanning beds at a tanning facility, except for medical use of phototherapy devices.

But Walker thinks that is one way the government is getting too involved.

“I think parents should be able to make those decisions for their families,” he said. “Folks around here have some good common sense.”

The proposed legislation was transferred to the State Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee on Jan. 19.

Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, who sits on the State Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee, said he’s not sure what stance he will take on the issue.

“It hasn’t come up for a vote,” he said.

The State House of Representatives adopted House Bill 196, which is a similar version of the the State Senate’s bill on Thursday.

Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, voted in favor of the legislation.

“Dr. David Watkins was the sponsor of that legislation. He had been practicing medicine for 40 years. He came and spoke to me and showed me some data and documentation, showing the increase in melanoma cancer in younger people. There has been a dramatic increase,” Bell said. “I just thought it was the right thing to do for protecting young people from something that may be having an adverse effect on themselves and their health.”

Rep. Bart Rowland, R-Tompkinsville, voted against HB 196.

“I did the same thing last year,” Rowland said, adding he feels like the use of tanning beds by anyone under the age of 18 is a decision that parents and kids should make.”

HB 196 passed the State House of Representatives with a vote of 55 to 37, with four members abstaining from voting.

During the 2015 session, the legislation passed the State House of Representatives with a vote of 51-47, but stalled in the State Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee.

An article posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website states the use of a tanning bed, booth or sunlamp to get a tan is called indoor tanning and can cause skin cancers, including melanoma, as well as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Those who do indoor tanning are exposed to two types of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB, which damage the skin and can lead to cancer.

The article also says “indoor tanning is particularly dangerous for young users; people who being indoor tanning during adolescence or early adulthood have a higher risk of getting melanoma. This may be due to greater use of indoor tanning among those who begin tanning at earlier ages.”