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Committee eases school sunscreen rules, allows parent‑designated caregivers to apply
Summary
Senators moved House/Senate bill 1167, the "sunscreen bill," which lets students carry over‑the‑counter sunscreen and allows application by the student or a parent‑designated, named staff member; an amendment limited who may be designated and the committee advanced the bill as amended.
LITTLE ROCK — The Senate Education Committee on Monday advanced legislation lawmakers described as the "sunscreen bill," allowing students to carry over‑the‑counter sunscreen and to apply it themselves or to have a parent designate a specific school staff member to apply it.
Senator Dave Wallace, sponsor, said current law requires a school nurse to apply sunscreen but that many schools lack a nurse for every campus. He argued the bill eases access: “This is a good common sense bill,” he told the committee.
Committee members raised concerns about allergic reactions and liability. Senator Chesterfield asked whether staff who apply sunscreen would be held harmless if a student suffered an allergic reaction; Wallace said parental permission would address that and noted the amendment added the requirement that designees be named by parent note rather than a general staff designation.
The committee adopted the amendment and voted the bill out as amended.
