LAWS OF DELAWARE
VOLUME 83
CHAPTER 493
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 279
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Chapter 30A, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by renaming and redesignating the existing chapter as “Subchapter I” and by making insertions as shown by underline and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
Chapter 30A. Training and Qualifications for Nursing Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants. Certification Requirements for Certain Nurse Assistants and Central Service Technicians.
Subchapter I. Training and Qualifications for Nursing Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants.
§ 3008A-3009A. [Reserved]
Subchapter II. Certification of Central Service Technicians.
§ 3010A. Definitions.
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Central Service Technician” means an individual who decontaminates, inspects, assembles, packages, and sterilizes reusable medical instruments or devices for a health care facility.
(2) “Health care facility” means a hospital or freestanding surgical center licensed pursuant to this title.
(3) “Health care practitioner” means an individual licensed to practice in the healing arts, pursuant to Chapter 24 of this title, acting within the scope of his or her license.
§ 3011A. Certification requirements for central service technicians.
(a) An individual may not be engaged in work as a central service technician in a health care facility and a health care facility may not employ an individual as a central service technician unless the individual has passed a nationally accredited central service exam for central service technicians and holds and maintains one of the following credentials:
(1) Certified registered central service technician credential.
(2) Certified sterile processing and distribution technician credential
(b) Exemption - The certification requirement provided in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to an individual employed or otherwise working as a central service technician in a health care facility as of January 1, 2023.
§ 3012A. Employment and continuing education.
(a) New employees - An individual hired as a central service technician who does not meet the requirements of § 3011A(a) of this subchapter shall have 18 months, from the date of hire, to comply with the certification requirements.
(b) Continuing education - Individuals who are employed as a central service technician in a health care facility shall annually complete 10 hours of continuing education. The continuing education required under this subsection shall be in subject areas related to the scope of work of a central service technician.
§ 3013A. Requirements of health care facilities.
A health care facility shall maintain documentation to verify that an individual meets the certification requirements of §3011A of this subchapter including the individual’s date of employment as a central service technician.
§ 3014A. Exemptions.
Nothing in this subchapter may be construed to prohibit any of the following individuals from performing the tasks of a central service technician:
(1) A health care practitioner.
(2) A student or intern performing the tasks of a central service technician, under the direct supervision of a health care practitioner, a part of their training or internship.
Section 2. The Department of Health and Social Services may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 3. This Act takes effect on January 1, 2023.
Approved October 21, 2022