As Missouri lawmakers consider tightening regulations for teenagers use of tanning beds, a New Jersey mom has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment for allegedly taking her five-year-old daughter into a tanning booth.

The lawyer for Patricia Krentcil  entered the plea for her during an appearance Wednesday morning in Newark, N.J.

Attorney John Caruso said outside court that the woman’s daughter never entered the tanning booth during their visit to a salon.

New Jersey state law prohibits children under the age of 14 from tanning booths. Children between the ages of 14 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

In a recent TV interview, Krentcil said she would take her daughter with her to the tanning salon.  However, she claims, her daughter would be in the room and not enter the tanning beds.  The mother stated that she liked to tan.

Police allege she put her daughter in an upright booth.

Krentcil says her daughter got her sunburn from being outside on a recent warm day.

This comes as Missouri lawmakers are considering similar legislation to require teens to have annual parental consent for children under 17 to use tanning facilities.  The legislation was endorsed by the Missouri House of Representatives last week.

More than 30 states have laws requiring parental consent for teens to use tanning beds.  More than 10 forbid tanning beds for teenagers of certain age.