(August 22, 2006) — ALBANY — Restricting teen access to tanning salons, property-tax exemptions on maple-syrup producers and allowing beer manufacturers to hand out free samples were some of the new laws Gov. George Pataki has recently approved.

Teenagers 18 and younger will need parental consent before baking in a tanning bed because of a law that will take effect next February. The law also bans children younger than 14 from patronizing tanning salons. The penalty is a $250 fine or revocation of a tanning license for the first offense.

Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties have either banned young people from using tanning salons or require parental consent. The new law would also require both adults and teenagers to wear goggles while tanning.

More information on tanning beds regulations for teenagers at Democrat and Chronicle.