Report Title:
Education; Sun Protection Program
Description:
Establishes a sun protection program for students in public schools.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2095 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SUN PROTECTION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Purpose. The legislature finds that inadequate protection against the sun's harmful effects can have deadly consequences. One in five Americans develops skin cancer during their lifetime and fifty eight per cent of blindness worldwide is cause by cataracts, which can be caused by excessive sun exposure. More than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. That is more than all other types of cancer combined. Over ten thousand Americans (more than one per hour) will die from the disease.
The three major types of skin cancer are the highly curable basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and the more seriously malignant melanoma. Melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, is also the most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the United States, causing seventy five per cent of all skin cancer deaths. Skin cancer is especially prevalent in Hawaii, with Kauai leading the nation in per capita incidence of basal cell carcinoma. Kauai was documented as having the highest incidence rate of basal cell carcinoma in the country.
The legislature also finds that sun protection during childhood and adolescence is particularly important because research shows a child with a history of five or more severe sunburns during adolescence more than doubles the child's risk of developing melanoma. Since Hawaii is the only state situated in the sun drenched tropics and most of Hawaii's public schools do not have a comprehensive sun protection policy, it is imperative that the State act expeditiously to educate and protect public school students.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to establish and administer a sun protection program designed to protect public school students from the harmful effects of the sun.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Sun protection program. (a) The department shall establish and administer a sun protection program in the public schools to protect students against the harmful effects of the sun.
(b) The sun protection program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Developing a curriculum that explains the dangers of sun exposure and how to best protect students against the harmful effects of the sun;
(2) Assessing the physical environment of all public school campuses to determine the necessity of increasing the number of shelters and trees to adequately shade students and the school grounds;
(3) Scheduling outdoor activities during reasonable hours to protect students against excessive sun exposure;
(4) Recommending the use of hats, protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen with a protection factor of fifteen or greater to protect students against the sun; and
(5) Requiring regular evaluations of the sun protection program by students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
(c) The department may adopt rules under chapter 91, necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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