OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed a bill that would limit access to tanning facilities for kids younger than 17.

Under the bill, children younger than 13 would be prohibited from using tanning facilities without a permission slip from a doctor and the presence at the tanning facility of a parent or guardian.

"Over 1 million Americans are stricken with skin cancer each year, and the rate of melanoma cases is skyrocketing, with more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths stemming from melanoma," said state Sen. Andrew Rice, who wrote the bill. "What's causing these increased rates of skin cancer? Experts point to the fact that nearly 30 million Americans tan indoors annually, and 2.3 million of those are teens, and these numbers are steadily increasing each year."

Those between the ages of 13 and 15 would be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who would have to stay at the tanning facility with the teenager.

Before anyone 16 or 17 years old could use a tanning facility for the first time, that individual would have to provide the facility with a written informed consent statement signed and dated by a parent or guardian.

"People don't realize how dangerous tanning is. I don't think we'd have so many teenagers tanning if their parents really knew about the health risks," said Rice. "My hope is that my bill will help protect Oklahomans and make parents and others more aware of the dangers of tanning, particularly among adolescents."