State Update – One State Still Working on Indoor Tanning Legislation
When the New Jersey “Tanning Mom” hit the media last summer, those of us in the tanning industry were fortunate that most state legislatures had adjourned for the year, and the resulting negative publicity had little impact on our fortunes. Two exceptions were New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, the good news is that the legislature adjourned for the year without taking final action on a bill that would have set up an expensive and intrusive licensing and inspection program operated under the department of health. (The proposed fee was $300 per location plus a charge per device.)
In New Jersey, the situation is not as clear. The legislature will be in session well into December with a number of proposals in play, all addressing restrictions on teen access to indoor tanning. Final action may come this year or the issue may not be resolved until the 2013 session. Either way, we are actively working to protect the interests of business owners across the state.
The ITA is Already Planning for a Busy 2013 State Legislative Session
Each year, our opponents are getting a little more sophisticated and the strategies they employ are evolving. More and more often, in order to get the attention of the public, the media and the government, our adversaries are spending massive sums of money to fuel a campaign that exaggerates the risks of exposure to ultraviolet light. They are using sting operations to generate media attention and paid consultants to push the story into the spotlight.
Of course, all of this is aimed at one goal – getting policymakers to enact additional restrictions on the way you run your businesses. Because of a number of factors including the publicity surrounding the New Jersey “Tanning Mom”, we expect 2013 to be our busiest year yet in the state legislatures.
Since the ITA was founded, we have hired consultants in practically every state and they serve as our early warning system for any efforts to place unreasonable restrictions on your businesses. These advisors are on constant alert for any signs of trouble and the first signs typically start in December, when state legislatures start organizing for the next session.
For example, we already know there will be teen tanning restrictions proposed in North Carolina because the Child Fatality Task Force in that state is recommending that the legislature take action. Please stay tuned and stay involved; we cannot win without the support of local business leaders.
The New Congress Set to Convene in January
Even before the lame duck session of the 112th Congress adjourns, we are already focused on our two primary goals for 2013 – repeal of the Tan Tax and making sure Congress doesn’t inject political influence into FDA’s oversight of our industry.
As is the case in almost all elections, some of our friends were reelected and some were not. For better or for worse, the political dynamics controlling the House and Senate changed very little in this election and consequently, the challenges we face as we work to achieve our goals are much the same, too.
We knew going into the election that no matter who is in the White House and which party controls the Senate on January 1, 2013, the possibility for outright repeal of Obama Care is slim. That means that the Tan Tax will have to be repealed as a part of a bigger package of tax reforms which we hope will be high on the agenda of the new Congress.
As far as keeping political influence out of the FDA’s oversight of our industry, that dynamic also changed very little with the 2012 election. Unfortunately some of the elected officials who don’t like this industry are still serving on Capitol Hill, and our challenge will be to make sure the ultimate decision makers continue to hear both sides of the argument and make the right call.
Thanks for your Support in 2012
December marks the end of the ITA calendar and financial year. We send a hearty thanks to all of you who stepped up in 2012 to support the Association and invested in our industry. In addition to memberships, many contributed via donations, special funds, and PAC contributions and also by encouraging others to join our “associate member” program. It all helps.
As we look to the New Year, we know many battles are still in front of us. If you are a current member, again, we thank you for your support. If you are not, please step up and invest in your industry! For less than a dollar a day, you can be a part of a great organization, the industry’s association that works for you 24/7. Please join today!
Thanks, and we wish you all the best for the Holiday Season and for a successful 2013!
