Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 10, 2023 12:45 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Art Haywood and Sen. Judy Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children |
| In the near future, we plan to introduce the Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. This model legislation has been adopted by 26 states with the goal of protecting students and campers from dangerous UV exposure while outdoors. Suboptimal sunscreen use puts many children at risk of excessive UV exposure, which could lead to skin cancer development. It has been 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. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), school policies that prohibit hats or student possession of sunscreen can create barriers to the use of important sun protection methods. We echo the CDC’s message that 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. To that end, our legislation provides for the expansion of sun protection in schools by allowing students to possess and use sunscreen or sun-protective clothing without a physician’s note or prescription. This legislation also provides school districts the option of incorporating age-appropriate skin cancer prevention educational curriculum. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 4,400 Pennsylvanians were diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in 2020 alone. Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation to ensure our students have every tool at their disposal to reduce the risk of excessive UV exposure and skin cancer. |
Introduced as SB889