ist magazine December 2022

ASA News ASAEffective in 2022LobbyingEfforts

IN 2023, staying ahead of attempts to over-regulate professional indoor tanning facilities at the state level will continue to be one of the American Suntanning Association’s top priorities. And, more than ever, ASA’s promo tion and defense of the market with policymakers is founded in construc tive dialogue that positions tanning professionals as part of the solution in real-world sun care. The American Suntanning Associa tion came out on the winning side in all 11 state legislative issues raised in 2022 without a defeat, using science to convince legislators that our approach to sunburn prevention and parental consent for tanners is the best way to address sun care issues. ASA is 25-0 in state capital issues in the past two years. In 2022, ASA prevailed in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Ver mont and Rhode Island. In California, we prevailed on two separate issues. Many of these issues involved proposed under-18 or even under-21 age restrictions for usage of a profes sional sunbed facility. In many cases, ASA convinced would-be bill sponsors not to even introduce bills after seeing the science that does not support that approach. Some of our victories involved tax bills and other issues. Since 2013, ASA has blazed a com mon approach of putting the industry’s positions in constructive, scientifically supported terms. That positive approach has paid dividends. Since 2013, ASA has

sun or from a sunbed – is not tobacco. It is qualitatively and quantitatively decep tive to make that comparison, and may actually unintentionally harm effective sun-care efforts.” The case for real-world sun-care solu tions continues to strengthen, as sunburn among non-tanners continues to be more and more prevalent, and research supporting regular, non-burning UV exposure is becoming more and more accepted. “The latest government data shows that 19 out of 20 sunburns today

convinced state legislatures 144 times that our positions make sense – continu ing to win when we have the opportunity to lay out the unintended consequences of anti-salon legislation. The latest challenge has been the advent of under-21 restriction proposals that have cropped up in New York and California. In California, ASA worked with counsel to keep an under-21 bill from finding an author, despite attempts by state dermatology groups to get it introduced. In New York state,

“THE BEST WAY TO KEEP LEGISLATION FROM GETTING ANY TRACTION IS TO RE-DEDICATE YOUR TANNING BUSINESS TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES." Joe Levy, ASA Executive Director

occur in situations where an individual was not even attempting to suntan,” Levy said. “The data supporting our positions continues to grow stronger. We have continued to put our case in a proper context and continue to demonstrate that professional indoor tanning facilities have a scientifically supported position. “The best way to keep legislation from getting any traction is to re-dedicate your tanning business to professional practices, sunburn prevention and to be worthy of the path that is being blazed for the tanning market of tomorrow,” Levy added. “And get involved with ASA. We need your support.”

ASA and counsel continue to work to keep two under-21 bills from gaining traction. Those bills, introduced in 2020 and 2021, were still active through the end of 2022 in New York. ASA Executive Director & Direc tor of Scientific Affairs Joseph Levy worked with ASA counsel in New York to successfully prevent those bills from moving in 2021-22. “This has our full attention,” Levy said. “We have committed resources to not only fight this, but to make sure leaders in the New York legislature fully understand why this bill would be a mistake. Proponents are trying to suggest that this issue is similar to tobacco, 18 states have raised the legal age for smok ing to 21. But UV exposure – from the

To join ASA today, visit AmericaSuntanning.org/register. n

About the ASA Founded in 2012, the American Suntanning Association is committed to defending and growing the industry through a detailed and proactive plan directed by an all-salon board and executed by more than two dozen management and consulting team members who specialize in this type of work.

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December 2022