BILL NUMBER: AB 2561 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 22, 2012
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 6, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 26, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 26, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Roger Hernández
FEBRUARY 24, 2012
An act to add Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525.20) to
Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to healing arts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2561, Roger Hernández. Certified surgical technologists.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of healing
arts licensees by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs,
including the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by
the Medical Board of California.
This bill would make it unlawful for a person to use the title
"certified surgical technologist" unless the person meets certain
educational requirements and holds a certification by a specified
entity.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) Surgical technologists are coresponsible for the environmental
disinfection, safety, and efficiency of the operating room, and
their knowledge and experience with aseptic surgical technique
qualifies them for a role of importance in the surgical suite.
(b) The surgical technology profession has grown to meet the
continuing demand for well-educated, highly skilled, and versatile
individuals to work with physicians and surgeons and other skilled
professionals to deliver the highest possible level of patient care.
(c) As surgical site infections have been found to be the second
most common hospital-acquired infections in the United States, a key
purpose of this article is to encourage the education, training, and
utilization of surgical technologists in California, given their role
in surgical settings in order to take specific steps to prevent
surgical site infections.
SEC. 2. Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525.20) is added to
Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to
read:
Article 25. Certified Surgical Technologists
2525.20. This article shall be known and cited as the Certified
Surgical Technologist Act.
2525.22. As used in this article, the following definitions shall
apply:
(a) "Certified surgical technologist" means a person who practices
surgical technology, and who has successfully completed a nationally
accredited educational program for surgical technologists and holds
and maintains certification as a surgical technologist by any of the
entities described in Section 2525.24.
(b) "Surgical technology" means intraoperative surgical patient
care as follows:
(1) At the direction of, or subject to supervision by, a physician
and surgeon, or registered nurse, preparing the operating room for
surgical procedures by ensuring that surgical equipment is
functioning properly and safely.
(2) At the direction of, or subject to supervision by, a physician
and surgeon, or registered nurse, preparing the operating room and
the sterile field for surgical procedures by preparing sterile
supplies, instruments, and equipment using sterile technique.
(3) Anticipating the needs of the surgical team based on knowledge
of human anatomy and pathophysiology and how they relate to the
surgical patient and the patient's surgical procedure.
(4) As directed in an operating room setting, performing the
following tasks at the sterile field:
(A) Passing supplies, equipment, or instruments.
(B) Sponging or suctioning an operative site.
(C) Preparing and cutting suture material.
(D) Transferring and pouring irrigation fluids.
(E) Transferring but not administering drugs within the sterile
field.
(F) Handling specimens.
(G) Holding retractors and other instruments.
(H) Applying electrocautery to clamps on bleeders.
(I) Connecting drains to suction apparatus.
(J) Applying dressings to closed wounds.
(K) Assisting in counting sponges, needles, supplies, and
instruments with the registered nurse circulator.
(L) Cleaning and preparing instruments for sterilization on
completion of the surgery.
(M) Assisting the surgical team with cleaning of the operating
room on completion of the surgery.
2525.24. (a) It shall be unlawful for a person to use the title
"certified surgical technologist" in this state unless the person
satisfies the following requirements:
(1) The person has successfully completed a nationally accredited
educational program for surgical technologists or a training program
for surgical technology provided by the United States Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Public Health Service.
(2) The person holds and maintains certification as a surgical
technologist by the National Board of Surgical Technology and
Surgical Assisting or its successor, or another nationally accredited
surgical technologist credentialing organization.
(b) A violation of this section shall not be subject to Section
2314.
2525.30. This article does not repeal, modify, or amend any
existing law relating to the supervision of surgical technologists,
nor shall it be construed to do so.
2525.31. This article does not prohibit or limit any health care
practitioner from performing a task or function within his or her
scope of practice, nor shall it be construed as such. For purposes of
this section, "health care practitioner" means any person who
engages in acts that are the subject of licensure or regulation under
this division or under any initiative act referred to in this
division.
2525.32. This article does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A registered nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing
with Section 2700) or a vocational nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter
6.5 (commencing with Section 2840).
(b) An individual employed by a health care facility whose primary
functions include the cleaning or sterilization of supplies,
instruments, equipment, or operating rooms.