SLS 23RS-112 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 29
BY SENATORS BOUDREAUX AND HENRY
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH CARE. Provides relative to the use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system.
(8/1/23)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Part XV of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 40:2200.11, relative to surgical smoke plume; to provide for
4 definitions; to require certain healthcare facilities to adopt and implement policies
5 regarding surgical smoke plume evacuation; to provide for the authority of the
6 Louisiana Department of Health; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Part XV of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
9 1950, comprised of R.S. 40:2200.11, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 PART XV. SURGICAL SAFETY PROCEDURES
11 ยง2200.11. Surgical smoke plume evacuation policy required
12 A. For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:
13 (1) "Surgical smoke plume" means the byproduct of using heat-
14 producing equipment on tissue during surgery.
15 (2) "Surgical smoke plume evacuation system" means a dedicated device
16 or equipment that is designed to capture, filter, and remove surgical smoke
17 plume before it can diffuse to mitigate exposure to the occupants of the
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 29
SLS 23RS-112 ENGROSSED
1 operating or treatment room.
2 B. Healthcare facilities licensed pursuant to this Chapter which provide
3 any surgical procedure using heat-producing equipment, including but not
4 limited to electrosurgery and lasers, shall adopt and implement policies for the
5 use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system to mitigate and remove the
6 surgical smoke plume.
7 C. The Louisiana Department of Health shall verify compliance with
8 this Section through onsite surveys that are specific to surgical services, full
9 licensing surveys, full recertification surveys, and complaint surveys if
10 allegations specific to surgical services are alleged.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 29 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Boudreaux
Proposed law defines "surgical smoke plume" and "surgical smoke plume evacuation
system".
Proposed law requires licensed healthcare facilities which provide surgical procedures using
heat-producing equipment, including but not limited to electrosurgery and lasers, to adopt
and implement policies for the use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system to mitigate
and remove the surgical smoke plume.
Proposed law provides for the La. Department of Health to verify compliance with proposed
law through onsite surveys that are specific to surgical services, full licensing surveys, full
recertification surveys, and complaint surveys if allegations specific to surgical services are
alleged.
Effective August 1, 2023.
(Adds R.S. 40:2200.11)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Amend the definition of surgical smoke plume.
2. Amend the definition of surgical smoke plume evacuation system.
3. Amend the healthcare facility policy requirements.
4. Clarify the authority of the La. Dept. of Health.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.