AB744,1,5 1An Act to amend subchapter II (title) of chapter 50 [precedes 50.20], 50.33 (title)
2and 257.01 (8); and to create 50.20, 50.22, 50.36 (7), 146.997 (1) (d) 13m.,
3252.14 (1) (ar) 16. and 257.01 (12) of the statutes; relating to: qualification
4requirements for performing surgical technology for a hospital or ambulatory
5surgery center.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill imposes qualification requirements for persons employed by a hospital
or ambulatory surgery center to perform surgical technology. The bill defines
surgical technology as surgical patient care that involves preparing an operating
room, equipment, and supplies for surgery, and performing various tasks during
surgery, including handling equipment and supplies and irrigating and sponging an
operative site. Under the bill, a hospital or ambulatory surgery center may not
employ a person to perform surgical technology unless the person is certified by the
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; has completed
training in surgical technology while serving in the U.S. armed forces or the federal
public health service; is employed to perform surgical technology on the effective date
of this bill; or is a licensed nurse, physician, or physician assistant. The bill also
requires those persons who qualify on the basis of certification by the National Board

of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting to complete continuing education
relating to surgical technology.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB744, s. 1 1Section 1. Subchapter II (title) of chapter 50 [precedes 50.20] of the statutes
2is amended to read:
AB744,2,33 CHAPTER 50
AB744,2,44 SUBCHAPTER II
AB744,2,5 5Ambulatory surgery centers and HOSPITALS
AB744, s. 2 6Section 2. 50.20 of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,2,7 750.20 Definitions. In this subchapter:
AB744,2,10 8(1) "Ambulatory surgery center" means any distinct entity that operates
9exclusively for the purpose of providing surgical services to patients who do not
10require hospitalization.
AB744,2,12 11(2) "Surgical technology" means surgical patient care that involves any of the
12following:
AB744,2,1413 (a) Preparing an operating room for a surgical procedure by ensuring that
14surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely.
AB744,2,1715 (b) Preparing an operating room and the sterile field for a surgical procedure
16by preparing the appropriate sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment for that
17surgical procedure using surgical asepsis.
AB744,2,1818 (c) Performing any of the following tasks in the sterile field:
AB744,2,1919 1. Passing and holding supplies, equipment, or instruments.
AB744,2,2020 2. Sponging or suctioning an operative site.
AB744,2,2121 3. Preparing and cutting material for sutures.
AB744,3,1
14. Irrigating an operative site.
AB744,3,22 5. Transferring but not administering drugs.
AB744,3,33 6. Handling specimens.
AB744,3,44 7. Counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
AB744, s. 3 5Section 3. 50.22 of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,3,8 650.22 Surgical technologists at ambulatory surgery centers. (1) An
7ambulatory surgery center may not employ a person to perform surgical technology
8unless at least one of the following applies:
AB744,3,129 (a) The person has successfully completed an accredited educational program
10for surgical technology and holds a valid surgical technologist certification issued by
11the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or a successor
12organization.
AB744,3,1513 (b) The person successfully completed a training program for surgical
14technology while serving in the U.S. armed forces or in the federal public health
15service.
AB744,3,1716 (c) The person is employed to perform surgical technology on the effective date
17of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
AB744,3,1918 (d) The person is licensed as a nurse under ch. 441 or is licensed as a physician
19or a physician assistant under ch. 448.
AB744,3,23 20(2) A person who is employed by an ambulatory surgery center to perform
21surgical technology to whom sub. (1) (b), (c), or (d) does not apply shall complete 60
22hours of continuing education related to surgical technology every four years and
23submit proof of completion to the ambulatory surgery center.
AB744, s. 4 24Section 4. 50.33 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB744,3,25 2550.33 (title) Definitions; hospitals.
AB744, s. 5
1Section 5. 50.36 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,4,32 50.36 (7) (a) A hospital may not employ a person to perform surgical technology
3unless at least one of the following applies:
AB744,4,74 1. The person has successfully completed an accredited educational program
5for surgical technology and holds a valid surgical technologist certification issued by
6the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or a successor
7organization.
AB744,4,98 2. The person successfully completed a training program for surgical
9technology while serving in the U.S. armed forces or the federal public health service.
AB744,4,1110 3. The person is employed to perform surgical technology on the effective date
11of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].
AB744,4,1312 4. The person is licensed as a nurse under ch. 441 or is licensed as a physician
13or a physician assistant under ch. 448.
AB744,4,1714 (b) A person who is employed by a hospital to perform surgical technology to
15whom par. (a) 2., 3., or 4. does not apply shall complete 60 hours of continuing
16education related to surgical technology every 4 years and submit proof of completion
17to the hospital.
AB744, s. 6 18Section 6. 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,4,2019 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. A person employed to perform surgical technology, as
20defined in s. 50.20 (2).
AB744, s. 7 21Section 7. 252.14 (1) (ar) 16. of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,4,2322 252.14 (1) (ar) 16. A person employed to perform surgical technology, as defined
23in s. 50.20 (2).
AB744, s. 8 24Section 8. 257.01 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB744,5,4
1257.01 (8) "Practitioner" means a behavioral health provider, clinical
2laboratory technician, emergency medical services provider, funeral director, health
3care provider, nurse aide, pupil services provider, or substance abuse prevention
4provider, or surgical technologist.
AB744, s. 9 5Section 9. 257.01 (12) of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,5,66 257.01 (12) "Surgical technologist" means any of the following:
AB744,5,107 (a) An individual who satisfies the criteria under s. 50.36 (7) (a) and, if
8applicable, (b) to perform surgical technology at a hospital or satisfies the criteria
9under s. 50.22 (1) and, if applicable, (2) to perform surgical technology at an
10ambulatory surgery center.
AB744,5,1411 (b) An individual who was at any time within the previous 10 years, but is not
12currently, certified as a surgical technologist by the National Board of Surgical
13Technology and Surgical Assisting or a successor organization, if the individual's
14certification was never revoked limited, suspended, or denied renewal.
AB744, s. 10 15Section 10. Effective date.
AB744,5,1616 (1) This act takes effect on August 1, 2011.
AB744,5,1717 (End)
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