1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing requirements for central service technicians; creating 
1.3 	a new section in chapter 148;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.4 	chapter 148.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [148.781] CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Application. This section applies to persons who perform the functions 
1.8 	of a central service technician in a health care facility.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
1.10 	meanings given:
1.11 	(1) "central service technician" means any person who decontaminates, inspects, 
1.12 	assembles, packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices being used in 
1.13 	a health care facility;
1.14 	(2) "commissioner" means the commissioner of health;
1.15 	(3) "health care practitioner" means a person licensed or registered under chapters 148, 
1.16 	150A, 153, 153B, 154, 155, 155A, and 156, including any intern, resident, fellow, or medical 
1.17 	officer who conducts or assists with the performance of surgery;
1.18 	(4) "health care facility" means any hospital or ambulatory surgery center.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Requirements for central service technician. (a) A health care facility shall 
1.20 	employ or otherwise retain the services of a central service technician only if the central 
1.21 	service technician:
2.1 	(1) has successfully passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service 
2.2 	technicians and holds and maintains credentials administered by a nationally accredited 
2.3 	central service technician credentialing organization, a certified registered central service 
2.4 	technician credential, or a certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential; 
2.5 	or
2.6 	(2) provides evidence that the person was employed by or was retained as a central 
2.7 	service technician by a health care facility on or before December 31, 2023.
2.8 	(b) A central service technician who does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a), 
2.9 	clause (2), shall have 18 months from the date of hire to obtain the certified registered central 
2.10 	service technician credential or the certified sterile processing and distribution technician 
2.11 	credential.
2.12 	(c) A person who qualifies to operate as a central service technician in a health care 
2.13 	facility under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), must annually complete ten hours of 
2.14 	continuing education credits to remain qualified to operate as a central service technician. 
2.15 	The continuing education required under this paragraph must be related to the functions of 
2.16 	a central service technician.
2.17 	(d) Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit the following persons from performing the 
2.18 	tasks or functions of a central service technician:
2.19 	(1) a health care practitioner;
2.20 	(2) a person who holds or maintains a registration, certification, or license by a nationally   
2.21 	accredited credentialing organization to perform health services; or
2.22 	(3) a student or intern performing the functions of a central service technician under the 
2.23 	direct supervision of a health care practitioner as part of the student's or intern's training or 
2.24 	internship.
2.25 	(e) A health care facility shall, upon the written request of a central service technician, 
2.26 	verify in writing the central service technician's dates of employment or the contract period 
2.27 	during which the central service technician provided services to the health care facility.

2.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective 180 days after final enactment.