Bill Text: DE HB279 | 2021-2022 | 151st General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Certification Of Central Service Technicians.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2022-10-21 - Signed by Governor [HB279 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2021-HB279-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Bush & Sen. Paradee |
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Reps. Carson, Cooke, Mitchell; Sens. Ennis, Lawson, Sokola, Walsh |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 279
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 30A, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by renaming and redesignating the existing chapter as “Subchapter I” and by making insertions as shown by underline and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
Chapter 30A. Training and Qualifications for Nursing Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants. Certification Requirements for Certain Nurse Assistants and Central Service Technicians.
Subchapter I. Training and Qualifications for Nursing Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants.
§ 3008A-3009A. [Reserved]
Subchapter II. Certification of Central Service Technicians.
§ 3010A. Definitions.
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Central Service Technician” means an individual who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices in a health care facility.
(2) “Health care facility” means a hospital or freestanding surgical center licensed pursuant to this title.
(3) “Health care practitioner” means an individual licensed to practice in the healing arts, pursuant to Chapter 24 of this title, acting within the scope of his or her license.
§ 3011A. Certification requirements for central service technicians.
(a) An individual may not be engaged in work as a central service technician in a health care facility and a health care facility may not employ an individual as a central service technician unless the individual has passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians and holds and maintains one of the following credentials:
(1) Certified registered central service technician credential.
(2) Certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential
(b) Exemption - The certification requirement provided in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to an individual employed or otherwise working as a central service technician in a health care facility as of January 1, 2023.
§ 3012A. Employment and continuing education.
(a) New employees - An individual hired as a central service technician who does not meet the requirements of § 3011A(a) of this subchapter shall have 18 months, from the date of hire, to comply with the certification requirements.
(b) Continuing education - Individuals who are employed as a central service technician in a health care facility shall annually complete 10 hours of continuing education. The continuing education required under this subsection shall be in subject areas related to the scope of work of a central service technician as set forth in regulations promulgated by the Department.
§ 3013A. Requirements of health care facilities.
(a) A health care facility shall maintain documentation to verify that an individual meets the certification requirements of §3011A of this subchapter including the individual’s date of employment as a central service technician.
§ 3014A. Exemptions.
(a) Nothing in this subchapter may be construed to prohibit any of the following individuals from performing the tasks of a central service technician:
(1) A health care practitioner.
(2) A student or intern performing the tasks of a central service technician, under the direct supervision of a health care practitioner, a part of their training or internship.
§ 3015A. Regulations.
The Department shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this subchapter.
Section 2. This Act takes effect on January 1 following its enactment into law.
SYNOPSIS
This Act establishes certification and continuing education requirements for central service technicians working in hospitals and freestanding surgical centers. Central service technicians are an important part of the healthcare team responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, disassembling, packaging, and sterilizing reusable surgical instruments and equipment. This Act requires individuals who perform the tasks of a central service technician to pass a nationally accredited examination and to hold either a certified registered central service technician credential or certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential within 18 months of hire. This Act grandfathers anyone working as a central service technician in a health care facility on or before January 1, 2023.
