STATEHOUSE TAN BAN

Having successfully pushed for a ban on tanning for teens under age 18 within Springfi eld, Ward 5 Alderman Sam Cahnman continued his push into the Illinois Statehouse. On Monday, the Illinois Senate voted 34-12 to pass Cahnman’s legislation, House Bill 188. The bill passed the House in February and now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for fi nal approval. Chicago passed a teen tanning ban before Springfi eld did so in October 2012. Currently, state law allows teens ages 14 and older to tan with a parent’s permission. Cahnman’s bill would require teens to wait until age 18 to use UV tanning beds. The proposed change to state law would remedy the fact that counties lacking home rule powers – like Sangamon County – can’t pass their own bans. Sponsored in the House by Republican Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfi eld, the proposed ban doesn’t restrict spray tanning. Of the six legislators representing parts of Springfi eld in the Statehouse, only one – Republican Rep. Rich Brauer – voted against it. Newly-seated Democratic Sen. Andy Manar didn’t vote on the bill. Cahnman said numerous studies show young people using tanning beds dramatically increase their risk of developing skin cancer.