Robert K

Executive Director’s Report
Tanning World Expo – Columbus, Ohio, September 25-27, 2015
I am pleased to report that our roster of exhibitors for the show continues to grow daily. As of May 1st, we have 45 exhibitors/product lines slated for the exhibition hall, and we are just getting started!
All the major lotion companies will be there – Bodicare Cosmetics, Devoted Creations, MR International, New Sunshine, and Sun Evolutions. As for sunbed equipment at the show, we will have Heartland, ProSun International, Sun Capsule and Sun Ergoline. We have major distributors from across the country coming, including All Hours, Heartland, Suntan Supply and Ultraviolet Resources International… an impressive lineup indeed.
On Friday, September 25th from 11-3, Sun is Life, the indoor tanning industry’s premier salon operator training program will provide training and certification. This is a program created by tanning professionals for tanning professionals. Be sure to sign up your staff. In addition, specifically for Ohio businesses, Train Ohio will be available.
Our education program on Saturday and Sunday mornings is shaping up as well. We have a talented group of salon owners charged with creating presentations and discussions that focus on topics designed to provide tools to help you better manage and run your businesses. Admission to these discussion forums will be free with your show floor badge.
Reasonable hotel accommodations should not be a problem if you act early. We have reserved 650 rooms at two hotels connected to the Columbus convention center –the Hyatt ($142/double occupancy) and the Crown Plaza ($130/night double occupancy). However, we know that the Buckeyes of Ohio State have a home game that weekend and rooms outside the block will be hard to find. Please go ahead and reserve your rooms right away.
We are looking forward to a great fall weekend in Columbus. Don’t forget, the 50th Annual Columbus Oktoberfest will be at the Ohio State Fairgrounds only 2 ½ miles from the show.
Please join us!



New York Attorney General’s Actions are a Wakeup Call
In April, the New York Attorney General filed suit against two businesses in New York alleging false advertising related to health claims. Without getting into the specifics of what the businesses said or what the attorney general said they said, every indoor tanning salon should take note and take action.
The lesson here is that the people who don’t like this industry are constantly looking for ways to make trouble, and once again the government is a willing ally with a frightening amount of power and resources. As the ITA learned in its multi-year run-in with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2008-2009, you are guilty until proven innocent and government has the resources to spend you into submission. Every state has its own “FTC” as a part of its attorney general’s office. Since 2009, we have seen this type of suit filed in a number of states, and winning a lawsuit against the government is very difficult.
The second lesson is don’t be tempted to make health claims, even if you think you have the data to back up the claim. The government will likely disagree and there are many people in and out of government monitoring everything we say.

State Issues
In Iowa the hard work of local business owners seems to have paid off. An under 18 ban passed the Senate but it now seems likely the Iowa House will not take up the bill and it will die for this year. Credit for stopping this bill goes to business owners Steve Scott and Wade Ranard who fought an uphill battle and turned the tide in the House.
In New Hampshire, we were not as fortunate. In early April, the Senate Health Committee voted that the ban “ought not to pass.” While not killing the bill outright, the legislator with whom we were working to defeat the ban said it would be very unusual for the full Senate to vote against the recommendation of a committee. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “it aint over til it’s over” and the full Senate did just that it late April clearing the ban for the governor’s signature. Two business owners, Bob Ashe and Dana Pierce fought an uphill battle working tirelessly in an attempt to defeat the bill.
In California, legislation to create a licensing and inspection program under the Health Department appears to have stalled, likely because the California Health Department is already overburdened and under staffed.
In North Carolina, an under 18 ban was rammed through the House with practically no notice and is pending in the Senate Rules Committee. With the help of the ITA, North Carolina businesses led by Jill Donovan and Jim Mastronardi are aggressively fighting this ban.
Finally, in New York on the heels of the attorney general’s actions, an under 18 ban was introduced in the New York Senate.
Here is a list of all 2015 bills in the state legislatures. For additional information or if you want to get involved, email admin@theita.com.

State Bill Number provision status
Arizona HB2493 Under 18 ban dead
California A1464 New Regulations introduced
Florida S376 Under 18 ban introduced
Idaho HB117 Under 14 ban; parental consent 14-17 enacted
Iowa SF420 Under 18 ban dead
Iowa HF232 Under 18 ban dead
Kansas H2369 Under 18 ban introduced
Kentucky H252 Under 18 ban dead
Maine SP57 Under 18 ban passed House; Senate rejected
Maryland HB56 Under 18 ban dead
Maryland S152 Under 18 ban dead
Massachusetts SD1565 Under 18 ban introduced
Minnesota H1869 Parental consent, repeals under 18 ban introduced
Mississippi S.2042 Under 18 ban dead
Mississippi H673 Under 18 ban dead
Montana H130 Parental consent dead
Montana SB125 Under 18 ban dead
New Hampshire H136 Under 18 ban passed House; passed Senate
New York S5008 Under 18 ban introduced
North Carolina S125 Under 18 ban passed House
Oklahoma SB508 Under 18 ban introduced
Oklahoma HB1471 Under 18 ban introduced
South Dakota HB1166 Under 18 ban dead
Virginia SB479 Under 15 ban, parental consent dead

__________________
Robert Klem
Superior UV Technologies
(888) 526-7712 x77
robertk@superioruv.com