Bill Status of HB1598  104th General Assembly

Short Description:  OPERATING ROOM SAFETY ACT

House Sponsors
Rep. Barbara Hernandez - Sharon Chung - Maura Hirschauer, Bradley Fritts, Anne Stava-Murray, Kevin John Olickal, Matt Hanson, Diane Blair-Sherlock, Theresa Mah, Aarón M. Ortíz, Rick Ryan, Stephanie A. Kifowit, Michelle Mussman, Michael Crawford, Edgar González, Jr., Kelly M. Cassidy, Anna Moeller, Joyce Mason, Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Anthony DeLuca, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Katie Stuart, Janet Yang Rohr, Camille Y. Lilly, Yolonda Morris, Sonya M. Harper, Lisa Davis, Kimberly Du Buclet and Mary Beth Canty

Senate Sponsors
(Sen. Cristina Castro)

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  4/14/2025SenateReferred to Assignments

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act


Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2027 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an individual from performing surgical technology services if the individual is acting within the scope of the individual's license or registration or is a student or intern under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider.

House Floor Amendment No. 2
Makes changes to defined terms. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2028 (rather than 2027) shall meet specified requirements. Makes changes in provisions concerning surgical technologist requirements. Replaces provisions concerning exemptions. Provides that health care facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, as determined by the federal government, shall be exempt as provided but shall have a hiring preference for surgical technologists who graduated from nationally accredited surgical technology programs and are certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a person licensed in the State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed, including, but not limited to, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse performing surgery-related tasks within the scope of the nurse's license or registration; or a student or intern from performing surgical technology services under direct supervision, as defined in the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  1/22/2025HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez
  1/24/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Bradley Fritts
  1/27/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
  1/28/2025HouseFirst Reading
  1/28/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/3/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
  2/18/2025HouseAssigned to Health Care Licenses Committee
  2/19/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray
  2/25/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
  2/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
  2/27/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
  2/28/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.
  3/4/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  3/4/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
  3/17/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
  3/19/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee; 008-005-000
  3/19/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  3/19/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez
  3/19/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  3/20/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Health Care Licenses Committee
  3/24/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
  3/25/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez
  3/25/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
  3/26/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
  3/26/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Health Care Licenses Committee
  3/26/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  3/26/2025HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  4/4/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  4/4/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
  4/9/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Licenses Committee; 010-005-000
  4/9/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
  4/10/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
  4/10/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  4/10/2025HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 073-035-000
  4/10/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled
  4/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
  4/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
  4/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper
  4/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
  4/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
  4/14/2025SenateArrive in Senate
  4/14/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  4/14/2025SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
  4/14/2025SenateFirst Reading
  4/14/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
  4/15/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty