Indoor Tanning Legislation: Policy and Nursing Practice
Indoor Tanning Legislation: Policy and Nursing Practice
All 50 states were evaluated via a website review or telephone interview of identified state contact with all survey questions answered by one of these methods for each state. Of the states where a telephone interview was conducted, all interviewees were employees of the Department of Health by the respective state. Fifteen states had no restrictions, two states had minimal restrictions, 25 states had moderate restrictions, and the remaining eight states had the maximum restrictions.
Results of this study revealed that only three states surveyed indicated mandatory yearly inspection of tanning salons. These states were Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Iowa. Almost two-thirds (62%) of the states require parental consent for adolescents under the age of 18; 80% of the states surveyed had a maximum penalty of a low level fine (e.g., $1,000 per day) for an infraction found during the inspection, and 14% had the infraction listed as a misdemeanor. These states were Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, Virginia, California, Texas, and Georgia. In addition to the states listing an infraction as a misdemeanor, 6% had the infraction listed as a Felony. These states were Florida, Mississippi, and Illinois. Only one state (Texas) had a maximum fine of $25,000. For a graphic representation of these findings, see Figure 1.
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Figure 1.
State Comparisons of Regulatory Language of Tanning Beds from Most Restrictive to No Restrictions
Results
All 50 states were evaluated via a website review or telephone interview of identified state contact with all survey questions answered by one of these methods for each state. Of the states where a telephone interview was conducted, all interviewees were employees of the Department of Health by the respective state. Fifteen states had no restrictions, two states had minimal restrictions, 25 states had moderate restrictions, and the remaining eight states had the maximum restrictions.
Results of this study revealed that only three states surveyed indicated mandatory yearly inspection of tanning salons. These states were Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Iowa. Almost two-thirds (62%) of the states require parental consent for adolescents under the age of 18; 80% of the states surveyed had a maximum penalty of a low level fine (e.g., $1,000 per day) for an infraction found during the inspection, and 14% had the infraction listed as a misdemeanor. These states were Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, Virginia, California, Texas, and Georgia. In addition to the states listing an infraction as a misdemeanor, 6% had the infraction listed as a Felony. These states were Florida, Mississippi, and Illinois. Only one state (Texas) had a maximum fine of $25,000. For a graphic representation of these findings, see Figure 1.
(Enlarge Image)
Figure 1.
State Comparisons of Regulatory Language of Tanning Beds from Most Restrictive to No Restrictions