Legislators in Albany are debating something that has already been banned in California, should teens under 18 be allowed to tan in indoor tanning facilities?

The Erie County Health Commissioner joined the American Cancer Society & Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) to show their support of pending legislation in the New York State Senate that would ban minors under the age of 18 from using indoor tanning booths.

The bill has passed the Assembly and advocates are pushing to see pass similar legislation in the NYS Senate. 27-year-old Scott Hangauer, who says he tanned in High School everyday, was diagnosed with Melanoma 2 years ago.

"It was really trying going through 10 hours of surgery on my neck, then undergoing chemotherapy," said Hangauer.

According to physicians, Melanoma is the second most common cancer in people ages 15-29.

Local tanning salons believe this proposal would have a detrimental effect on business and could impact hundreds of jobs.

"I think this should be the right of parents, not the government," said Tanning Bed Inc. President Dan Humiston. "There's an enormous benefit of being out in the sun, Vitamin B for one. It has wonderful health benefits but people are now afraid of the sun because of these scare tactics. A lot of people say tanning in a tanning bed is not the same as being out in the sun and that's misleading. UV light is UV Light. It's exactly the same in a tanning bed as it is in the sun."

(from WKBW)

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