SB894

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that inadequate protection against the sun's harmful effects can have deadly consequences. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during his or her lifetime and fifty-eight per cent of blindness worldwide is caused 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 serious, 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.

The legislature also finds that sun protection during childhood and adolescence is particularly important because research shows a history of five or more severe sunburns during adolescence more than doubles a child's risk of developing melanoma. Since Hawaii is the only state located 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 and the department of human services to establish and administer a sun protection program designed to protect public school students and children in group child care homes or care centers, such as preschools, from the harmful effects of the sun.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II 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. The program shall encompass students in all public school programs including after-school programs and weekend community-school activities.

(b) The sun protection program shall include but not be limited to:

(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 and facilities used for after-school programs and weekend community-school activities for students 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, employees, teachers, administrators, and parents.

SECTION 3. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part VIII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346‑ Group child care home and child care center; sun protection program. (a) The department shall establish and administer a sun protection program in group child care homes or group child care centers to protect children against the harmful effects of the sun.

(b) The sun protection program shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Developing a curriculum that explains the dangers of sun exposure and how to best protect children against the harmful effects of the sun;

(2) Assessing the physical environment of group child care home or group child care center facilities to provide recommendations on increasing the number of shelters and trees to adequately shade children and the facility grounds;

(3) Developing recommendations on outdoor activity scheduling to protect children 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 children against the sun; and

(5) Obtaining regular evaluations of the sun protection program by parents, children, group child care home and group child care center employees, and administrators.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	894
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII