Sen. Ruth Ward backs bill to let students carry and use sunscreen, sun-protective clothing

Sen. Ruth Ward introduced SB 432 to allow students to possess and use topical sunscreen on school property and at school events without a licensed health-care provider note or prescription, to permit sun‑protective clothing for outdoor use, and to establish a skin cancer prevention education program.

Ward told the committee that under current medication rules many students are required to have physician permission to bring sunscreen to school, decreasing access. She cited evidence and endorsements from national groups to argue the measure would reduce long-term skin‑cancer risk: "Regular use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50%," she said, citing public-health sources.

Melissa Clement, chief of childcare licensing at the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee camps already permit sunscreen with parent permission and without a doctor’s note and flagged possible overlaps between statutes and camp rules. Dr. Hayden Dodie, chief dermatology resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock, testified that childhood UV exposure raises lifetime melanoma risk and supported the bill; he recommended reapplication intervals (roughly every 60–90 minutes depending on product and water exposure).

Committee members asked whether schools would be required to supply sunscreen or to apply it; Ward said the bill would not require schools to provide sunscreen or have personnel apply it. The hearing closed with thanks to witnesses; the bill will proceed through committee consideration where language about camps, school responsibilities and implementation will be clarified.