This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Minors who want to go to tanning salons would have to get parental permission on each visit under a bill passed Wednesday by the Utah Senate.

Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, said parents have a responsibility to learn about the risks posed by the ultraviolet light from tanning beds, which she warned is a known carcinogen and 15 times more dangerous than midday sunlight.

"If you think it's inconvenient for parents to be warned about the dangers of tanning, how inconvenient is it to take your children to chemotherapy treatments?" Jones asked.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, opposed SB41, arguing that parents be presented information on the risks and allowed to give consent annually. Jones called his amendment an attempt to "gut the bill," and his effort failed.

The Senate passed the bill 18-9. It now goes to the House.

Robert Gehrke