JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, announced his bill, HB 1260, to prohibit minors from using indoor tanning devices. Schroer was joined by dozens of supporters of the bill, including doctors and melanoma survivors.
Schroer shared startling melanoma statistics, calling them “avoidable health care costs,” including that the rate of melanoma has doubled in Missouri in the last 9 years. Artificial UV radiation is named as the leading cause of melanoma. Schroer hopes protecting youth from artificial UV radiation will curtail melanoma rates in Missouri, and, eventually, save the state health care costs.
Speakers also included two doctors, a victim of melanoma, and a widow of a California, Mo. veteran who passed in 2013 from melanoma – all supporting the prohibition.
“We need to do more than just talk about this,” Schroer said.
Schroer was also joined by Rep. Gary Cross, who previously sponsored legislation to require guardian consent for tanning.
Coalitions supporting the bill include AIM at Melanoma, American Academy of Pediatrics, Missouri Chapter, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Miles Against Melanoma, Missouri Center for Health Policy, Missouri Dermatological Society, Missouri Nurses Association, Missouri State Medical Association, MU Healthcare, Our Mark on Melanoma, Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students (SPOTS), SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Dermatological Society, and Warriors Against Melanoma.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
