2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
April 2, 2010 - Introduced by Senator Robson, cosponsored by Representative
Pasch. Referred to Committee on Health, Health Insurance, Privacy, Property
Tax Relief, and Revenue.
SB660,1,5 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 the sterile field,
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 or is otherwise
accredited by the Department of Regulation and Licensing to perform surgical
technology. 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:
SB660, s. 1 1Section 1. Subchapter II (title) of chapter 50 [precedes 50.20] of the statutes
2is amended to read:
SB660,2,33 CHAPTER 50
SB660,2,44 SUBCHAPTER II
SB660,2,5 5Ambulatory surgery centers and HOSPITALS
SB660, s. 2 6Section 2. 50.20 of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,2,7 750.20 Definitions. In this subchapter:
SB660,2,10 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.
SB660,2,12 11(2) "Surgical technology" means surgical patient care that involves any of the
12following:
SB660,2,1513 (a) Preparing the sterile field for a surgical procedure by preparing the
14appropriate sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment for that surgical procedure
15using surgical asepsis.
SB660,2,1616 (b) Performing any of the following tasks in the sterile field:
SB660,2,1717 1. Passing and holding supplies, equipment, or instruments.
SB660,2,1818 2. Sponging or suctioning an operative site.
SB660,2,1919 3. Preparing and cutting material for sutures.
SB660,2,2020 4. Irrigating an operative site.
SB660,2,2121 5. Transferring but not administering drugs.
SB660,3,1
16. Handling specimens.
SB660,3,22 7. Counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
SB660, s. 3 3Section 3. 50.22 of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,3,6 450.22 Surgical technologists at ambulatory surgery centers. (1) An
5ambulatory surgery center may not employ a person to perform surgical technology
6unless at least one of the following applies:
SB660,3,107 (a) The person has successfully completed an accredited educational program
8for surgical technology and holds a valid surgical technologist certification issued by
9the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or a successor
10organization.
SB660,3,1311 (b) The person successfully completed a training program for surgical
12technology while serving in the U.S. armed forces or in the federal public health
13service.
SB660,3,1514 (c) The person is employed to perform surgical technology on the effective date
15of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SB660,3,2216 (d) The person is licensed as a nurse under ch. 441 or is licensed as a physician
17or a physician assistant under ch. 448; the person is licensed or certified by the
18department of regulation and licensing or by a board under s. 15.405 or 15.406 to
19provide a health care service and the scope of the practice for which the person is
20licensed or certified includes providing care in an operating room or a preparation
21area for an operating room; or the person is participating in a training program that
22is required to obtain a license or certification described under this paragraph.
SB660,4,3 23(2) A person who is employed by an ambulatory surgery center to perform
24surgical technology to whom sub. (1) (b), (c), or (d) does not apply shall complete 60
25hours of continuing education that are specifically related to surgical technology

1every four years. The person shall maintain records demonstrating proof of
2completion of the continuing education hours, and upon request by the ambulatory
3surgery center, shall submit a copy of the records to the ambulatory surgery center.
SB660, s. 4 4Section 4. 50.33 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB660,4,5 550.33 (title) Definitions; hospitals.
SB660, s. 5 6Section 5. 50.36 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,4,87 50.36 (7) (a) A hospital may not employ a person to perform surgical technology
8unless at least one of the following applies:
SB660,4,129 1. 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.
SB660,4,1413 2. The person successfully completed a training program for surgical
14technology while serving in the U.S. armed forces or the federal public health service.
SB660,4,1615 3. The person is employed to perform surgical technology on the effective date
16of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].
SB660,4,2317 4. The person is licensed as a nurse under ch. 441 or is licensed as a physician
18or a physician assistant under ch. 448; the person is licensed or certified by the
19department of regulation and licensing or by a board under s. 15.405 or 15.406 to
20provide a health care service and the scope of the practice for which the person is
21licensed or certified includes providing care in an operating room or a preparation
22area for an operating room; or the person is participating in a training program that
23is required to obtain a license or certification described under this subdivision.
SB660,5,424 (b) A person who is employed by a hospital to perform surgical technology to
25whom par. (a) 2., 3., or 4. does not apply shall complete 60 hours of continuing

1education that are specifically related to surgical technology every 4 years. The
2person shall maintain records demonstrating proof of completion of the continuing
3education hours, and upon request by the hospital, shall submit a copy of the records
4to the hospital.
SB660, s. 6 5Section 6. 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,5,76 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. A person employed to perform surgical technology, as
7defined in s. 50.20 (2).
SB660, s. 7 8Section 7. 252.14 (1) (ar) 16. of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,5,109 252.14 (1) (ar) 16. A person employed to perform surgical technology, as defined
10in s. 50.20 (2).
SB660, s. 8 11Section 8. 257.01 (8) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 42, is
12amended to read:
SB660,5,1613 257.01 (8) "Practitioner" means a behavioral health provider, clinical
14laboratory technician, emergency medical services provider, funeral director, health
15care provider, nurse aide, pupil services provider, or substance abuse prevention
16provider, or surgical technologist.
SB660, s. 9 17Section 9. 257.01 (12) of the statutes is created to read:
SB660,5,1818 257.01 (12) "Surgical technologist" means any of the following:
SB660,5,2219 (a) An individual who satisfies the criteria under s. 50.36 (7) (a) and, if
20applicable, (b) to perform surgical technology at a hospital or satisfies the criteria
21under s. 50.22 (1) and, if applicable, (2) to perform surgical technology at an
22ambulatory surgery center.
SB660,6,223 (b) An individual who was at any time within the previous 10 years, but is not
24currently, certified as a surgical technologist by the National Board of Surgical

1Technology and Surgical Assisting or a successor organization, if the individual's
2certification was never revoked limited, suspended, or denied renewal.
SB660, s. 10 3Section 10. Effective date.
SB660,6,44 (1) This act takes effect on August 1, 2011.
SB660,6,55 (End)
Loading...
Loading...