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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 732 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1464
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael F. Rush
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act regulating central service technicians.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and Suffolk 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 732 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1464
By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1464) of Michael F. Rush for
legislation to regulate central service technicians. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1522 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act regulating central service technicians.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 234 the following section:-
3 Section 235.
4 (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
5 “Allied health professional,” shall mean a person who holds and maintains a registration,
6certification, or license to perform health care services by a state or a nationally accredited
7credentialing organization. 2 of 4
8 “Central Service Technician,” any person, who decontaminates, inspects, assembles,
9packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices being used by a health care
10facility.
11 “Health care practitioner,” any person licensed or registered under chapter 111 or 112,
12including any intern, resident, fellow or medical officer who conducts or assists with the
13performance of surgery.
14 “Health care facility,” shall mean any “hospital" as defined in section 52 of chapter 111
15or any “rural hospital" as defined in section 52 of chapter 111 or surgical services that are
16provided by a free-standing ambulatory surgery center, whether inpatient or outpatient,
17conducted for charity or for profit and whether or not subject to section 25C. “Health care
18facility" shall not include dental or private office of a health care practitioner.
19 (b) A health care facility shall not employ or otherwise retain the services of a central
20service technician unless such person:
21 (1) Has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central
22service technicians, and holds and maintains one of the following credentials administered by a
23nationally accredited central service technician credentialing organization: the certified
24registered central service technician credential, the certified sterile processing and distribution
25technician credential or a substantially equivalent credential; or
26 (2) Provides evidence that the person was employed or retained the services of a central
27service technician by a health care facility on or before December 31, 2024. 3 of 4
28 (c) A central service technician who does not meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(2)
29of this section shall have 18 months from the date of hire to obtain the certified registered central
30service technician credential or the certified sterile processing and distribution technician.
31 (d) A person who qualifies to function as a central service technician in a health care
32facility under paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section must annually complete 10 hours of
33continuing education credits to remain qualified to function as a central service technician. The
34continuing education required under this subsection shall be in the area related to the functions of
35a central service technician.
36 (e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the following persons from performing the tasks
37or functions of a central service technicians:
38 (1) A health care practitioner;
39 (2) An allied health professional;
40 (3) A student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the
41direct supervision of a health care practitioner as part of the student’s or intern’s training or
42internship.
43 (f) A health care facility shall, upon the written request of a central service technician,
44verify, in writing, the central service technician's dates of employment or the contract period
45during which the central service technician provided services to the health care facility.
46 SECTION 2. The commissioner of the department of public health may adopt regulations
47necessary to carry out this act. Such regulations shall be adopted not later than 90 days after the
48effective date of this act. 4 of 4
49 SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect 180 days after the effective date of this act