The bill S. 170 aims to enhance safety in surgical environments by mandating that licensed facilities, such as hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. This is achieved by requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate such smoke. The bill defines key terms, including "surgical smoke," which refers to the gaseous by-products produced by energy-generating devices, and "smoke evacuation system," which is equipment designed to capture and filter this smoke at its source.

The legislation will take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring that facilities have adequate time to comply with the new requirements. By instituting these measures, the bill seeks to protect both medical staff and patients from the potential health risks associated with surgical smoke exposure.

Statutes affected:
01/14/2025: 44-7-387
03/11/2025: 44-7-387
03/13/2025: 44-7-387
03/18/2025: 44-7-387
03/19/2025: 44-7-387
Latest Version: 44-7-387