Researcher: JO Page 1 3/23/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 89
AN ACT CONCERNING SURGICAL SMOKE.
SUMMARY
This bill requires each licensed hospital and outpatient surgical
facility, by January 1, 2023, to develop a policy for using a surgical
smoke evacuation system to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. By
October 1, 2023, these facilities must implement the policy and, upon
request, provide a copy to the Department of Public Health.
Under the bill, “surgical smoke” is the by-product of using an energy-
generating device during surgery, such as surgical or smoke plume,
bioaerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, or lung-damaging
dust. But the term excludes by-products produced during
gastroenterological or ophthalmic procedures which are not emitted
into the operating room during surgery.
A “surgical smoke evacuation system” is a system, such as a smoke
or laser plume evacuator or local exhaust ventilator, that captures and
neutralizes surgical smoke (1) at the smoke’s site of origin and (2) before
the smoke contacts the eyes or respiratory tract of anyone in an
operating room during surgery.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2022
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 31 Nay 0 (03/11/2022)