News
Rep. Carter Revives Indoor Tanning Bill Thursday with ‘Striker’
March 21, 2018
PHOENIX – The Legislature will get another chance to protect children from unnecessary exposure to harmful UV radiation Thursday morning.
Rep. Heather Carter, District 15, will employ a “striker” amendment. This will “strike everything” from bill SB 1290 and replace it with the language from the indoor tanning bill — HB 2084. The new bill will be taken up Thursday morning in the House Health Committee, where it received an 8-1 vote last month.
“Members of the House Health Committee will soon hear from our volunteers that they should be supporting our new bill — SB 1290,” said Brian Hummell, Arizona government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
At least five skin cancer survivors will testify Thursday in support of the bill to prohibit minors from using tanning devices, allowing Arizona to join 15 other states with similarly comprehensive laws. If SB 1290 passes out of the House Health Committee, it could be directly sent to the Senate for a vote.
Melanoma is the fifth most-common type of cancer in Arizona, and research shows people who use tanning devices before age 35 increase their risk for developing melanoma by 59 percent. Additionally, the effects of ultraviolet exposure are cumulative, meaning the earlier someone starts tanning the more likely they are to develop a potentially deadly skin cancer.
WHO:
Brittany Conklin, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma survivor from Phoenix
Nicole Hill, basal cell carcinoma survivor from Scottsdale
Linda Houser, squamous survivor from Mesa
Christine Nelson, melanoma survivor from Mesa
Shelby Voss, melanoma survivor from Cave Creek
WHAT:
House Health Committee Hearing
WHERE:
Arizona State Capitol – House Hearing Room 4
WHEN:
Thursday, March 22 at 9 a.m.