OLYMPIA — Whether they know it or not, students in Washington schools may have an illegal substance in their purses, backpacks or gym bags. It’s not cigarettes, alcohol or marijuana.
It’s sunscreen.
Without a note from a doctor and a parent, state law and policy set by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction don’t allow students to bring sunscreen to school or apply it while they are there. Under state law school employees are also banned from lathering it on a student, even on bright sunny days.
“Every now and then we get a piece of legislation and we say ‘Really? We need a bill for this?'” said Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, who has introduced a bill to change the law.
The Senate K-12 Education Committee was told that state law requires any medication that a student has or uses requires both a note from a doctor and from a parent. That covers both prescription medication and over-the-counter medication.