Public Act 100-1176
 
HB4685 EnrolledLRB100 16765 AXK 31905 b

    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. Definition. In this Act, "school personnel"
means any employee of a school.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.