Bill > S2070

This bill establishes regulations for Central Service Technicians, defined as individuals who decontaminate, inspect, assemble, package, and sterilize reusable medical instruments or devices in a surgical facility. To be employed or retained by a health care facility, these technicians must either pass a nationally accredited central service exam and hold a specific credential (like Certified Registered Central Service Technician or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician) or have been employed in such a role before December 31, 2015. Those hired after this date who don't meet the credentialing requirement will have 18 months to obtain it. All qualified technicians will need to complete 10 hours of continuing education annually. The bill also clarifies that licensed health care practitioners can perform these tasks if it falls within their scope of practice, and the Commissioner of Public Health will have 90 days after the bill's effective date to adopt necessary regulations, with Section 1 of the bill taking effect 180 days after the overall act becomes law.