BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: June 28, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
Jim Wood, Chair
ACR 198
(Gordon) - As Introduced June 20, 2016
SUBJECT: Sun safety.
SUMMARY: Resolves that the Legislature 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. Makes various findings and
declarations related to childhood sun exposure and skin cancer.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (CCCP) within
the Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research Branch of the
Department of Public Health (DPH).
2)Requires schools to allow sun-protective clothing, including hats,
for outdoor use, and to allow pupils to use sunscreen without a
physician's note or prescription.
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FISCAL EFFECT: None.
COMMENTS:
1)PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION. According to the author, skin cancer
is by far the most common cancer found among our residents. In
California, new cases of skin cancer are roughly equal to the
total number of new cases of all other types of cancer combined.
Overexposure to the sun is particularly unsafe for children. In
fact, a child's skin is more vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet
rays than an adult's skin. Furthermore, up to 50% of a person's
lifetime sun exposure can occur during childhood and adolescence.
Sunburns, especially in childhood, increase the chances that
individuals will develop skin cancer. However, skin cancer is
highly preventable when sun safety practices are adopted, such as
the use of wide-brimmed hats, ultraviolet-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.
Children, who are more vulnerable, need to understand why and how
to guard against unprotected exposure to the sun.
2)BACKGROUND. According to the American Academy of Dermatology
(AAD), ultra violet (UV) radiation from sun or indoor tanning can
lead to skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma. To live a
healthy lifestyle while practicing appropriate photoprotection,
the AAD recommends seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and
applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of 30 or higher. According to the American Academy of
Ophthalmology, exposure to UV radiation from bright sunlight may
increase the risk of developing cataracts and growths on the eye,
including cancer. In addition, in 2013, the British Journal of
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Ophthalmology reported that individuals with more sunlight
exposure have a significantly increased risk of macular
degeneration. The risks of excessive sun exposure and how to
avoid it have been emphasized on a national level by various other
entities including the Office of the Surgeon General, the Centers
for Disease Control, and the National Council on Skin Cancer
Prevention.
3)CALIFORNIA Skin Cancer Prevention Program. DPH's CCCP includes
the Skin Cancer Prevention Program (SCPP), whose mission is to:
Increase public awareness regarding the dangers of over exposure
to sunlight; increase individual and organization-wide practice of
sun-safety behaviors; and, decrease future incidence of skin
cancer among California residents. SCPP's primary target includes
children less than 15 years of age and outdoor workers.
4)California's Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (PLAN), 2011-2015.
In July 2011, DPH published this plan. The portion of the plan
that addresses UV light exposure included the goal of decreasing
the proportion of Californians who experienced sunburns by 50%.
In 2010 it was estimated that 30% of adults and 15% of children
had such sunburns in the previous 12 months. Strategies which the
plan proposed included the following:
a) Educate the public regarding the dangers of unprotected
exposure to UV light-including indoor tanning-and the
recommended practices for decreasing melanoma risk, including
using the UV index to identify the strength of UV light when
outdoors;
b) Support the integration of sun protection and melanoma
prevention strategies (education and policies) into facilities
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serving children and youth;
c) Educate parents regarding the harmful effects of
overexposure of UV light for young children and indoor tanning
for teens; and,
d) Promote and disseminate existing skin cancer prevention
education and policy resources to childcare centers, schools,
parks and recreation departments, sports venues, camps, and
developers to support integration of sun protection strategies
into their activities, policies, and structures.
5)SUPPORT. The California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic
Surgery, the sponsor of this resolution, believes that efforts to
publicize awareness of the dangers of ultraviolet radiation, such
as the passage of this resolution, are key parts of the effort to
halt the spread of skin cancers.
6)PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.
a) ACR 46 (Lieu), Resolution Chapter 41, Statutes of 2007,
proclaimed the month of May 2007, as Skin Cancer Awareness
Month, and encouraged all Californians to make themselves and
their families aware of the risk of skin cancer and the
measures that can be taken to prevent it. Similar resolutions
were adopted by the Legislature in 2003 and 2006.
b) SCR 25 (Speier), Resolution Chapter 105, Statutes of 2005,
urged the appropriate state agencies to utilize existing means
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of communication with employers to advise employers of the
importance of sun safety and skin cancer protections in the
workplace.
c) SB 688 (Speier) of 2005, would have required the Department
of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health
Services, (now DPH) to develop a skin cancer prevention policy
to educate pupils in grades one through six. SB 688 was vetoed
by the Governor.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery (Sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:John Gilman / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097