SB 111 (BR 290) - J. Pendleton
AN ACT relating to surgical technologists.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 216B, relating to the licensure and regulation of health facilities and services, to regulate the practice of surgical technology; define "surgical technology"; prohibit the practice of surgical technology in a health facility by a person unless the person meets specified criteria; allow surgical technology practice if the person has successfully completed an accredited surgical technology education program and maintains national surgical technologist certification; permit surgical technology practice by a person who has completed a surgical technology training program in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Public Health Service; grandfather any person who can prove that he or she was practicing surgical technology in a health facility for at least two of the five years prior to the implementation of the new oversight of surgical technology; exempt federal employees practicing surgical technology pursuant to their employment; allow surgical technology practice by a person for the six months immediately following the person's graduation from an accredited surgical technology school; permit the practice of surgical technology in a health facility by a person who does not meet the normal requirements if the health facility is unable to employ a sufficient number of persons who meet the requirements and the health facility documents its efforts in a written record retained at the health facility; authorize the cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to create standards and requirements for health facility alternate employment of persons practicing surgical technology; require 15 hours of continuing education annually for persons practicing surgical technology who have been permitted to practice due to specified training; direct health facilities to verify that their surgical technology employees meet the continuing education and national certification requirements; mandate that health facilities supervise practitioners according to the health facility's policies and procedures; exempt registered nurses or other licensed or certified health care practitioners practicing surgical technology while acting within their scope of practice; establish the role and duties of persons practicing surgical technology under the supervision of a registered nurse operating room circulator; grant the Cabinet for Health and Family Services the power to oversee the practice of surgical technology; authorize the cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to enforce the limitations on the practice of surgical technology.
SB 111 - AMENDMENTS
SCS - Delete all original provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 311 to require certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting before a person may profess to be a certified surgical technologist; mandate the same certification before a person may use the initials "CST" or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the individual is a certified surgical technologist; make willful violation a Class B misdemeanor.
Feb 10-introduced in Senate
Feb 12-to Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations (S)
Mar 6-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute
Mar 9-2nd reading, to Rules
