The bill establishes a new section, 395.1075, in the Florida Statutes, which outlines the requirements for central service technicians employed by licensed hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. It defines a central service technician as a person responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, disassembling, packaging, and sterilizing reusable medical instruments or devices. The bill mandates that these technicians must pass a nationally accredited exam and meet specific criteria, such as holding relevant certifications or demonstrating prior employment in the field by a certain date. Those who do not meet these criteria must obtain the necessary certification within 18 months of their hire date to maintain their employment.

Additionally, the bill requires central service technicians to complete at least 10 hours of continuing education annually related to their functions to continue working in this capacity. It also stipulates that licensed facilities must verify the employment dates of technicians upon request. Exemptions are provided for health care practitioners acting within their scope, students or interns under supervision, and individuals with relevant credentials from accredited organizations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.