Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1718 3
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By: Representative Gramlich 5
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR SURGICAL SMOKE 9
EVACUATION IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES LICENSED IN THIS 10
STATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 11
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Subtitle 14
TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR SURGICAL 15
SMOKE EVACUATION IN HEALTHCARE 16
FACILITIES LICENSED IN THIS STATE. 17
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 9, Subchapter 2, is amended 21
to add an additional section to read as follows: 22
20-9-225. Standards for surgical smoke evacuation — Definitions. 23
(a) As used in this section: 24
(1) "Energy-generating device" means a tool that performs a 25
surgical function using heat, laser, electricity, or other form of energy; 26
(2)(A) "Smoke evacuation system" means a smoke evacuator, laser 27
plume evacuator, or local exhaust ventilator that effectively captures and 28
neutralizes surgical smoke at the site of origin and before the surgical 29
smoke can make ocular contact or contact with the respiratory tract of 30
occupants of the room. 31
(B) "Smoke evacuation system" is not required to be 32
interconnected to a surgical ventilation system or medical gas system; and 33
(3) "Surgical smoke" means the gaseous by -product produced by 34
energy-generating devices, including surgical plume, smoke plume, bio -35
aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, or lung -damaging dust. 36 HB1718
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(b) Any healthcare facility licensed by the Department of Health that 1
uses energy-generating devices shall use a smoke evacuation system during any 2
surgical procedure involving an energy -generating device that is likely to 3
produce surgical smoke. 4
(c) The State Board of Health and the department may take any action 5
under § 20-9-215 necessary for a violation of this section. 6
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