[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 8-1-2006 by L.L. No. 12-2006.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was vetoed by the County Executive, which veto was overridden by a two-thirds majority of the Legislature 10-3-2006 by Res. No. 509-2006.
This chapter shall be known as "The Rockland County Tanning Information and Regulation Act."
A. 
This Legislature finds that many physicians and scientists now warn that the risks associated with sun tanning are greater when tanning with artificial ultraviolet light.
B. 
These risks include, but are not limited to, sunburn, premature aging, skin cancer, retinal damage, formation of cataracts, suppression of the immune system, and damage to the vascular system.
C. 
Certain medications, cosmetics, and foods are "photosensitizing," which means that in some people they react unfavorably with ultraviolet light to produce skin rashes or burns. Sunlamps and other artificial sources of ultraviolet light are know to intensify these effects.
D. 
In addition, there is a particular cause for concern about Rockland County's younger residents. Studies show that women who go to tanning salons more than once a month or get sunburns when they are teenagers are 55% more likely to develop skin cancer later in life. Thus, this chapter pays particular attention to children.
E. 
The Legislature notes that the Rockland County Sanitary Code contains certain enforcement mechanisms relating to tanning salons. It has determined that additional safeguards are necessary to offer further protections to our youngest residents.
F. 
The Legislature finds, therefore, that a local law is necessary in order to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of those persons who use tanning facilities in Rockland County.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner of the Rockland County Department of Health.
CUSTOMER
Any individual who enters a tanning facility for the purpose of using an ultraviolet radiation device.
OPERATOR
A person designated by the tanning facility owner or tanning equipment lessee to operate, or to assist and instruct the customer in the operation and use of, the tanning facility or tanning equipment.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or any business entity.
TANNING EQUIPMENT
Any device that emits electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the air between 200 nanometers and 400 nanometers used for tanning of the skin, including, but not limited to, a sunlamp, tanning booth, or tanning bed.
TANNING FACILITY
Any location, place, area, structure, or business which provides persons access to any tanning equipment, including, but not limited to, tanning salons, health clubs, apartments, or condominiums, regardless of whether a fee is charged for access to the tanning equipment.
This chapter shall apply to any tanning facility in Rockland County; provided, however, that it shall not apply to any physician duly licensed to practice medicine who uses, in the practice of medicine, medical diagnostic and therapeutic equipment that emits ultraviolet radiation or any person who owns tanning equipment exclusively for personal, noncommercial use.
Applications, permits and fees shall be in accordance with Article XIV of the Rockland County Sanitary Code.
Tanning equipment shall be used according to the manufacturer's specifications or the Rockland County Sanitary Code provisions and regulations, whichever is more stringent.
It shall be unlawful in the County of Rockland for a tanning facility or operator to allow any person who has not yet reached the age of 16 to use any tanning equipment.
It shall be unlawful for a tanning facility or operator to allow customers aged more than 16 years but less than 18 years to use tanning equipment without a parent's or guardian's consent. Such consent is only valid if the parent or guardian is physically present at the tanning facility. In such case, the parent or guardian is required to sign the written warning outlined in § 354-9. Existing persons who are under the age of 18 shall be treated as if they are new customers for purposes of this chapter.
A. 
A tanning facility shall have an operator present during operating hours who is sufficiently knowledgeable in the correct operation of the tanning equipment used at the facility so that he or she is able to inform and assist each customer in the proper use of such tanning equipment.
B. 
The tanning facility operator shall:
(1) 
Instruct each customer on:
(a) 
The proper position to maintain relative to the tanning equipment;
(b) 
The position of the safety railing, where applicable;
(c) 
The manual switching device to terminate radiation; and
(d) 
The maximum time of exposure permitted by the tanning facility;
(2) 
Monitor the use of the facility to ensure that the interior temperature does not exceed 100° F.
(3) 
Comply between users with sanitizing procedures specified by the manufacturer of the tanning equipment and the Rockland County Sanitary Code; and
(4) 
Show each customer how to use suitable physical aids, such as handrails and markings on the floor, to maintain proper exposure distance as recommended by the manufacturer of the tanning equipment.
A. 
A tanning facility shall provide to each customer, at no extra charge, protective eyewear for use with the tanning equipment which meets the requirements of Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 1040.20 (c)(4).
B. 
A tanning facility shall not permit any customer to use such facility's tanning equipment without wearing the protective eyewear required by this section.
A. 
A tanning facility shall post within such facility a warning sign at the front or main entrance to such facility and on each tanning device in an area immediately visible to a patron using the device. Such sign shall be clearly visible and legible so that it can be easily viewed by customers, having dimensions not less than 17 inches by 22 inches, and shall read as follows:
"DANGER - ultraviolet radiation. Follow instructions. As with natural sunlight, overexposure can cause eye injury and sunburn; repeated exposure may cause premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. Medications or cosmetics applied to the skin may increase your sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Consult physician before using lamp if taking any medications or if you believe yourself especially sensitive to sunlight."
B. 
A tanning facility shall provide to each customer 18 years or older, upon his or her first visit to such facility, the Rockland County information sheet entitled "Tanning Hazards," promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to the Rockland County Sanitary Code, which shall be signed, witnessed and dated prior to the use of any tanning equipment at such facility and thereafter kept on file by such facility.
C. 
Rules relating to minors 16 and 17 years of age. No tanning facility shall be permitted to allow a minor 16 or 17 years old to utilize the facilities until the following procedures are met:
(1) 
On an initial visit to any particular tanning facility, or for existing customers on the first visit after this chapter is in effect, all minors age 16 or 17 shall be accompanied by their adult parent or legal guardian prior to using the tanning facility for the first time. At that initial visit, a tanning facility shall provide to the parent or guardian of every minor aged 16 or 17, and to the minor, the Rockland County information sheet entitled "Tanning Hazards," promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to the Rockland County Sanitary Code, which shall be signed, witnessed and dated prior to the use of any tanning equipment at such facility and thereafter kept on file by such facility. At that initial visit, the parent or guardian of every minor aged 16 or 17 shall be required to provide the following consent prior to the use of any tanning equipment at such facility by such minor, which shall be signed, witnessed and dated prior to the use of any tanning equipment at such facility and thereafter kept on file by such facility:
"I have received and read the publication entitled "Tanning Hazards" promulgated by the Rockland County Department of Health prior to signing this consent, and have had an opportunity to satisfactorily discuss my child's expected tanning treatments with the operator of the facility.
I hereby allow my child, ________________, to utilize these tanning facilities for no more than ____ visits during the month of _______, 2___.
I understand that this consent will only be valid for the month stated, and that I will be required to provide continuing written consent on a monthly basis, for a specific number of tanning sessions per month, so that I can monitor my child's exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
____________________
Signature of facility operator
______________________
Signature of guardian
____________________
Date
______________________
Print name of guardian
______________________
Print name of minor
_____________________
Age of Minor
or
The minor's parent or legal guardian is illiterate and/or legally blind and I have read the publication entitled "Tanning Hazards" promulgated by the Rockland County Department of Health and the consent form aloud and in full to the parent or legal guardian in the presence of the below signed witness.
Signature of facility operator
Witness
Date
(2) 
Further visits. All minors aged 16 or 17 shall, at the first visit of each month thereafter, submit to the tanning facility the written consent form, noting the month and number of visits in that month covered by the consent, and containing an original signature by such minor's parent or legal guardian only. The tanning facility shall carefully compare the signature on all subsequent consent forms to the original form the parent or guardian signed during the first visit to ensure that the signatures are authentic.
A tanning facility shall maintain a record of the use of such facility by each customer, which shall include the dates and durations of each customer's tanning exposures as well as his or her total number of tanning exposures at such facility, or any branch location thereof, for a period of three years after exposure.
Any tanning facility found to be in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for the first violation, not less than $750 and not more than $1,000 for the second violation, and not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for the third violation and each violation thereafter, which may be recovered following notice and an opportunity to be heard in a proceeding before the Commissioner of Health.
The Commissioner shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this chapter.