Brown Vetoes Bill To Create Standards for Surgical Technologists
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has vetoed a bill (AB 2062) that would have created baseline education and certification standards for surgical technologists, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 10/1).
Background
Technologists currently are the only staff members on an operating team who are not required to meet a minimum level of:
- Certification;
- Education; or
- Training.
Details of Bill
The bill, by state Sen. Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina), aimed to improve patient safety by creating a set of standards for all individuals involved in surgical operations.
The bill would have barred health care facilities from employing or contracting with a surgical technologist who lacks specific training and certification, unless:
- The technologist was employed before Jan. 1, 2013; or
- The facility documented an inability to recruit workers that meet the requirements.
In the case that a facility was unable to recruit staff that meet the requirements, the bill would have allowed continued education to be provided to staff (California Healthline, 8/28).
Brown's Veto
In a veto message, Brown wrote that the bill would have created "an unnecessary barrier to employment" for surgical technologists (Sacramento Business Journal, 10/1). Brown noted that he vetoed a similar measure two years ago.
Brown wrote, "Hospitals successfully employ many surgical technologists today," adding, "They should continue to do their utmost to ensure that everyone in an operating room is competent and qualified to do the job" (Brown veto message, 9/30).
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