(TRENTON) — Assembly Democrats Ralph R. Caputo (D-Essex) and Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) issued a multimedia package Tuesday on their legislation to better protect teens from an increased risk of skin cancer by expanding New Jersey’s current indoor tanning ban to any minor under the age of 18.
The bill (A-2142) would bar anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds in New Jersey, regardless of whether they have obtained parental permission. However, the bill would allow teens 14 years of age and older, with written permission, to use spray tanning, which does not expose them to UV radiation the way a tanning bed does.
Current law allows emancipated minors and minors between 14 and 18 years of age, who have written authorization from a parent or guardian, to use tanning facilities.
Caputo noted the recent incident involving the Nutley woman from his legislative district who is accused of bringing her five-year-old daughter into a tanning booth further underscores the need for the legislation.
The multimedia package consists of a video of Assembly members Caputo and Lampitt discussing their legislation and audio and a transcript of same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of comments from the legislators is appended below:
Assemblyman Ralph R. Caputo (D-Essex):
“My bill prevents anyone from the age under 18 from using a tanning booth.
“We’re trying to prevent cancer from our young people that are exposed to these rays unnecessarily.”
Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden), Assembly Women and Children Committee Chair:
“What we know about youth is that their bodies are still growing and they’re still forming. And if they are overexposed to certain elements, then it can harm them.
“Melanoma affected me as a family; not me personally but me my sister. And so, it’s a forever growing issue and it’s an issue that I had taken notice to.”
Caputo:
“And just as a footnote, the individual that was written up and became very controversial in the state, and also in the country, it shows the addiction that people have for this type of activity. And the potential of — even though that young little girl, that five-year-old girl may not have been in the tanning booth, it does bring about the potential danger of having a child in that environment.”
Lampitt:
“This bill is not about banning tanning salons.
“This bill is banning anybody under the age of 18 to protect their growing bodies from overexposure to the carcinogens of the UVA rays.”