California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 198

Introduced by Assembly Member Gordon

June 20, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 198—Relative to sun safety.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 198, as introduced, Gordon. Sun safety.

This measure would encourage teaching sun safety practices to children to enable them to identify the importance of sun safety, practice strategies to protect against the harmful effects of the sun, and understand why and how to stay safe from overexposure to the sun.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The chief cause of skin cancer is exposure to
ultraviolet (UV) rays from natural sunlight and artificial sources;
and

WHEREAS, At least one in five Americans will develop skin
cancer in his or her lifetime and one American dies every hour
from the disease; and

WHEREAS, During October 2014, the United States Department
of Health and Human Services, in its 13th Report on Carcinogens,
classified solar radiation, which includes UV rays, as a “known
human carcinogen” or cancer-causing agent; and

WHEREAS, Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer
found among California residents; and

WHEREAS, In California, new cases of skin cancer are roughly
equal to the total number of new cases of all other types of cancer
combined; and

WHEREAS, In addition to causing skin cancer, unprotected
exposure to sunlight can cause eye damage and premature aging
of the skin; and

WHEREAS, A child’s skin is more vulnerable to harmful UV
rays than an adult’s skin; and

WHEREAS, Up to 50 percent of a person’s lifetime sun
exposure can occur during childhood and adolescence; and

WHEREAS, Sunburns, especially in childhood, increase the
chances that a person will develop skin cancer; and

WHEREAS, Skin cancer is highly preventable when sun safety
practices are adopted, such as the use of wide-brimmed hats,
UV-protective sunglasses, long clothing, and sunscreen,
supplemented by environmental supports, including the provision
of shade and the adoption and implementation of sun protection
guidelines and policies; and

WHEREAS, Children, who are more vulnerable, need to
understand why and how to guard against unprotected exposure
to the sun; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages teaching sun
safety practices to children to enable them to identify the
importance of sun safety, practice strategies to protect against the
harmful effects of the sun, and understand why and how to stay
safe from overexposure to the sun; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.