Bill Text: MS SC671 | 2017 | Regular Session | Engrossed

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 671 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Urge MS Dept. of Education, MS Board of Nursing and MS Dept. of Health to develop policy on sunscreen use by school children.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Failed) 2017-03-29 - Died In Committee [SC671 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-SC671-Engrossed.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Burton

Senate Concurrent Resolution 671

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF NURSING AND THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP A POLICY FOR THE USE OF APPROVED SUNSCREEN BY MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN AT SCHOOL AND SCHOOL EVENTS.

WHEREAS, cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers; and

WHEREAS, Melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths; and

WHEREAS, the rates of Melanoma have been rising for the last 30 years; and

WHEREAS, current estimates are that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures, 560 cases of Melanoma will be diagnosed in Mississippi in 2017; and

WHEREAS, exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer; and

WHEREAS, research shows that daily sunscreen use cut the incidence of Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in half; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi law establishes specific requirements for administration of all OTC or prescription medications to school children by school nurses, and requires schools to implement a sun safety and skin cancer awareness program but there is no clear sunscreen policy for school children:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That due to the high incidence of potential skin cancer in children, the Mississippi Legislature urges the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Board of Nursing and the Mississippi Department of Health to work jointly to develop a clear policy for Mississippi school children to possess and apply Over-the-Counter and FDA-approved sunscreen at public and nonpublic schools in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the purpose of this clear policy on sunscreen use at public and nonpublic schools across Mississippi is that the children will be able to possess and apply sunscreen at public and nonpublic school-based events and thereby will have the opportunity to protect themselves from the dangers of developing skin cancer in the future.