BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2561
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2561 (Roger Hernández)
As Amended April 26, 2012
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-1
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Bill Berryhill, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Allen, Butler, Eng, | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Hagman, Hill, Ma, Smyth | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Gatto, Hall, Hill, |
| | | |Lara, Mitchell, Nielsen, |
| | | |Norby, Solorio, Wagner |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Donnelly |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes a title act for certified surgical
technologists. Specifically, this bill :
1)Establishes the Certified Surgical Technologist Act and makes
it unlawful for a person to use the title "certified surgical
technologist" in this state unless the person:
a) Has successfully completed a nationally accredited
educational program for surgical technologists, or a
training program for surgical technology provided by the
United States (U.S.) Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps,
Coast Guard or Public Health Service; and,
b) Holds and maintains certification as a surgical
technologist by the National Board of Surgical Technology
and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or its successor, or
another nationally accredited surgical technologist
credentialing organization.
2)Provides that violations of the above provision are not
subject to a misdemeanor or enforcement thereof.
3)Defines "certified surgical technologist" to mean a person who
practices surgical technology, and who has successfully
AB 2561
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completed a nationally accredited educational program for
surgical technologists and holds and maintains certification
as a surgical technologist by any of the entities described
above.
4)Defines "surgical technology" to mean surgical patient care,
and outlines the specific activities that constitute surgical
patient care.
5)Specifies that this bill does not: repeal, modify, or amend
any existing law relating to the supervision of surgical
technologists, nor shall it be construed to do so; prohibit or
limit any healing arts licensee described in this division
from performing a task or function within the scope of the
healing art licensee's license, nor shall it be construed as
such; or, apply to licensed registered nurses, licensed
vocational nurses, or an individual employed by a health care
facility whose primary functions include the cleaning or
sterilization of supplies, instruments, equipment, or
operating rooms.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to Assembly Appropriations Committee:
1)Negligible direct state costs.
2)Previous versions of this bill established registration fees,
a Surgical Technologist Fund, and oversight by a Certified
Surgical Technologist Committee within the Medical Board of
California for purposes of this title act. Recent amendments
removed these provisions. This bill no longer specifies a
role for an oversight and enforcement entity or fee
collection; however, putting this title protection in statute
could result in pressure to establish state oversight. Such
oversight could cost in the range of $200,000-$500,000 per
year.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "Presently, surgical
technologists are the only health care professionals engaged in
surgical suite activity without recognition of their profession
and the attendant standards of care which their work in such
settings warrant?As surgical site infections (SSI) have been
found to be the second most common hospital-acquired infections
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in the United States (U.S.), a key purpose of the bill is to
encourage the education, training and utilization of certified
surgical technologists in California, given their work in
surgical settings to prevent SSI."
Surgical technologists, also known as "scrub techs," "surgical
technicians," or "operating room technicians," are allied health
professionals who work under the supervision of a surgeon. They
provide surgical care to patients ensuring that invasive
surgical procedures are being carried out safely and
effectively. They ensure the operating room environment is safe
and that equipment is working properly. They also make sure
that surgical procedures are performed under conditions that
maximize patient safety.
Surgical technologists must possess a high school diploma (or
equivalent) and complete an accredited surgical technology
training program. In California, the Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School accredits surgical
technology programs offered by community colleges, vocational
schools, universities, hospitals, and the military. Training
programs typically last from 12 to 24 months and lead to a
certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
In California, the number of surgical technologists is expected
to grow much faster than the average growth rate for all
occupations. Jobs for surgical technologists are expected to
increase by 29.2%, or 2,600 jobs, between 2008 and 2018.
Analysis Prepared by : Angela Mapp / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
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