Bill Text: IL HB4685 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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-Introduced.html

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100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2017 and 2018 HB4685 Introduced , by Rep. John Connor SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
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.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning children.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
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.
Section 5. 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

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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.
Section 10. 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

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participants in applying a topical sunscreen product with
parental permission.
(d) School or youth camp 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 or camp participant 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.
Section 15. Sun-safe education. Beginning with the
2019-2020 school year, all school districts shall incorporate
in their curriculum a unit of instruction on skin cancer
prevention. The instruction shall be provided in an age
appropriate manner and shall include, 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

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(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.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.