Photo IllustrationLouisiana students may be able to bring sunscreen to school after the House Education Committee Wednesday moved House Bill 412 to the full House for consideration.
HB412, by Rep. Bernard LeBas, D-Ville Platte, would exempt sunscreen from a current law regulating medication in schools, which defines medication as all prescription and nonprescription drugs.
The bill would allow students to use sunscreen at school or on a school bus without parental consent or a doctor’s note. The bill would also allow school employees to apply, with parental consent, the child’s sunscreen if he or she is unable to do it.
Sarah Lomax Gray, co-founder and director of the Lauren Savoy Foundation, joined LeBas to speak on the dangers of skin cancer.
“At this time, state and local regulations are actually hindering sun safety in schools,” Gray said. “You…have the opportunity to allow kids to play without fear of sunburns.”
The bill passed through the committee 12-1, with Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, casting the dissenting vote. An amendment by Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Houma, that would allow non-FDA approved or homemade sunscreen in schools, failed.