2012 -- H 7825 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC00609/SUB A

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TANNING FACILITY SAFETY STANDARDS

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, E Coderre, Silva, Morrison, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2012

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-68-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-68 entitled "Tanning

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Facility Safety Standards Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-68-4. Safety standards established. -- The director of the department of health shall,

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by regulation, establish minimum safety standards for tanning facilities. The standards shall

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include, but not be limited to:

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      (1) Establishment of a maximum safe time of exposure to radiation and a maximum safe

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temperature at which tanning devices may be operated;

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      (2) A requirement that a timer device be incorporated into each tanning device;

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      (3) A requirement that a patron at a tanning facility wear protective eye glasses when

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using tanning equipment and that a patron be supervised as to the length of time the patron uses

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tanning equipment at the facility;

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      (4) Requiring that the facility operator post easily legible, permanent warning signs near

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the tanning equipment which states: "Danger -- Ultra-violet radiation. Follow all instructions.

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Avoid overexposure"; as well as a list, prepared by the director of the department of health, of

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prescription and non-prescription drugs which may cause photosensitivity in patients using a

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tanning center; and

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      (5) Require that the facility have protective shielding for tanning equipment in the

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facility. ; and

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     (6) A prohibition on the use of tanning facilities by a person younger than eighteen (18)

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years of age, unless:

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     (a) Such person presents a prescription for receiving ultra-violet radiation treatments

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written by a physician licensed to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 5-37; or

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     (b) For every two (2) uses of a tanning facility, the parent or legal guardian of such

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person signs a written consent form in the presence of a tanning facility staff member. The

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written consent form shall contain, at a minimum, the following language: "I understand that the

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world health organization has classified the ultraviolet radiation used in tanning facilities as a

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Class 1 carcinogen, the same category as tobacco products. By exposing my child to ultraviolet

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radiation in this tanning facility, the possibility of my child developing melanoma (skin cancer)

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will increase. I also understand that there are safe alternatives available to achieve the same

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cosmetic effect as exposing my child's skin to ultraviolet radiation, such as spray tanning or

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bronzing creams."

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2013.

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LC00609/SUB A

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TANNING FACILITY SAFETY STANDARDS

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     This act would require the director of the department of health to include, as minimum

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safety standards for tanning facilities, a prohibition on the use of such facilities by persons

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younger than eighteen (18) years of age unless prescribed by a physician.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2013.

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LC00609/SUB A

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