Bill Text: TX SB429 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to the adoption and implementation of a surgical smoke evacuation system policy at certain health care facilities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-09 - Referred to Health & Human Services [SB429 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB429-Introduced.html

---

87R5391 SRA-F
By: Miles S.B. No. 429

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption and implementation of a surgical smoke
evacuation system policy at certain health care facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 222, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM POLICY AT CERTAIN
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Sec. 222.061. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Health care facility" means:
(A) a hospital licensed under Chapter 241,
including a hospital maintained and operated by this state;
(B) an ambulatory surgical center licensed under
Chapter 243; and
(C) a mental hospital licensed under Chapter 577.
(2) "Surgical smoke" means the gaseous by-product,
including surgical plume, smoke plume, bio-aerosols,
laser-generated airborne contaminants, or lung-damaging dust,
produced by an energy-generating device.
(3) "Surgical smoke evacuation system" means
equipment designed to capture and neutralize surgical smoke at the
site of origin and before the surgical smoke makes contact with the
eyes or respiratory tract of the individuals occupying the room
where the surgery is performed.
Sec. 222.062. SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM POLICY. A
health care facility shall adopt and implement a policy to prevent
human exposure to surgical smoke through the use of a surgical smoke
evacuation system during a planned surgical procedure that is
likely to generate surgical smoke.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, a health care
facility shall adopt and implement the policy required by Section
222.062, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.