California Becomes First State to Ban Sunbed Use by Minors

To protect youngsters from the lethally dangerous radiation used in sunbeds, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill banning the use of sunbeds for anyone under the age of 18.

With the bill being signed, California has become the first U.S. state to put an age limit on the use of the popular tanning method.

The existing law allows children between 14 and 18 to use sunbeds with parental consent.

Senator Ted Lieu, who sponsored the bill said, If everyone knew the true dangers of tanning beds, they'd be shocked. Skin cancer is a rising epidemic and the leading cause of cancer death for women between 25 and 29.

The bill was drafted to improve the health and well-being of Californians.

I praise Gov. Brown for his courage in taking this much-needed step to protect some of California's most vulnerable residents - our kids - from what the 'House of Medicine' has conclusively shown is lethally dangerous: ultraviolet-emitting radiation from tanning beds, Senator Ted Lieu said.

The new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, according to Lieu's office.