Bill Text: IL HB4685 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: Creates the Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. Provides that a student or participant in a youth camp may possess and use a topical sunscreen product while on school property or at a school-sponsored event or activity or youth camp without a physician's note or prescription if certain conditions are met. Provides that a school district or youth camp shall allow a student or participant to use articles of sun-protective clothing outdoors. Provides that, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, all schools districts shall incorporate in their curriculum a unit of instruction on skin cancer prevention. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-01-11 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-1176 [HB4685 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2017-HB4685-Chaptered.html
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| Public Act 100-1176 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning children.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title; references to Act. | ||||
(a) Short title. This Act may be cited as the Reducing the | ||||
Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. | ||||
(b) References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the | ||||
SUNucate Law.
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Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "school personnel" | ||||
means any employee of a school.
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Section 10. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and | ||||
declares the following: | ||||
(1) Many children are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) | ||||
radiation due to suboptimal sunscreen use and high rates of | ||||
sunburning and are therefore at risk of excessive UV | ||||
exposure, which could lead to skin cancer development. It | ||||
is a high priority to ensure that children can use | ||||
sunscreen and sun-protective clothing when outdoors. | ||||
(2) News outlets have reported that some schools do not | ||||
allow children to bring or use sunscreen without a | ||||
prescription due to medication bans and fears of legal | ||||
ramifications. | ||||
(3) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | ||
believe that school policies that prohibit hats or student | ||
possession of sunscreen can create barriers to the use of | ||
important sun protection methods. | ||
(4) The United States Preventive Services Task Force | ||
recommends educating children, adolescents, and young | ||
adults on the dangers of sun exposure to reduce the risk of | ||
skin cancer. | ||
(5) It is in the public's interest that schools set | ||
policies that include education on sun exposure and | ||
encourage our youth to use sun protection, including | ||
sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
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Section 15. Sun-protective measures in schools and youth | ||
camps. | ||
(a) A student may possess and use a topical sunscreen | ||
product while on school property or at a school-sponsored event | ||
or activity without a physician's note or prescription if the | ||
product is approved by the United States Food and Drug | ||
Administration for over-the-counter use for the purpose of | ||
limiting ultraviolet light-induced skin damage. | ||
(b) A participant in a youth camp may possess and use a | ||
topical sunscreen product while attending the camp without a | ||
physician's note or prescription if the product is approved by | ||
the United States Food and Drug Administration for | ||
over-the-counter use for the purpose of limiting ultraviolet | ||
light-induced skin damage. | ||
(c) A school district or youth camp operator may allow | ||
school or youth camp personnel to assist students or | ||
participants in applying a topical sunscreen product with | ||
parental permission. | ||
(d) Except for willful or wanton misconduct, school | ||
personnel may not be held liable in a criminal or civil action | ||
for application of a topical sunscreen product if the topical | ||
sunscreen product is available to and used by the student in | ||
accordance with this Section. | ||
(e) A school district or youth camp shall allow a student | ||
or participant to use articles of sun-protective clothing | ||
outdoors, including, but not limited to, hats. A school | ||
district or youth camp may set a policy related to the type of | ||
sun-protective clothing that will be allowed to be used | ||
outdoors under this subsection (e). Specific clothing | ||
determined by school or youth camp personnel to be | ||
inappropriate apparel may be prohibited by the policy.
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Section 20. Sun-safe education. Beginning with the | ||
2019-2020 school year, a school district may incorporate in its | ||
curriculum a unit of instruction on skin cancer prevention that | ||
is provided in an age appropriate manner and that includes, but | ||
is not limited to, the following components: | ||
(1) the basic facts about skin cancer, including, but | ||
not limited to, the negative impact of human exposure to | ||
ultraviolet radiation obtained through sunburns and indoor | ||
tanning; and | ||
(2) a comprehensive set of strategies and behaviors to | ||
reduce the risk of contracting skin cancer, including, but | ||
not limited to, the use of sunscreen and sun-protective | ||
clothing.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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