LANSING — State Rep. Kevin Hertel’s (D-St. Clair Shores) bill to allow students to bring sunscreen to school and use it during school activities, House Bill 5379, had a committee hearing in the Committee on Education Reform today. Madison Horton, a young woman who has battled with a rare form of skin cancer and is an advocate for the sunscreen in schools bill, testified in support of the bill.
“Not only has Madison battled cancer herself, but she has also been willing to get involved to make changes to our laws in order to protect other students. She’s an incredible young woman,” said Hertel. “Madison’s story is compelling, and HB 5379 is a common sense way to heed the advice of her and others battling skin cancer, as well as several medical and dermatology groups, and let students properly protect themselves.”
HB 5379 was introduced to allow students to bring sunscreen with them to school and apply it so they can protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays while they are engaged in outdoor activities. Currently, students are not allowed to bring sunscreen to school without a doctor’s note. This bill would amend that so that as long as parents gave written consent, students could possess sunscreen without the schools being held liable.
“We know that skin cancers can be caused by the sun, and we know that students spend enough time outside during the school day to make applying sunscreen a good idea—even in colder months where its need isn’t as apparent,” said Hertel. “I look forward to working alongside Madison to pass this legislation.”