SB2653 - Operating Room Patient Safety Act

• Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act to ensure patient safety in surgical procedures by requiring qualified, trained professionals to prepare operating rooms and maintain sterile environments.

• Requires each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2026 to meet one of five specified qualifications: completion of an accredited surgical technologist program with national certification, registration as a registered surgical technologist, military training, previous practice experience before January 1, 2026, or completion of certification within 12 months of hire.

• Applies to hospitals, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, and University of Illinois Hospital, but excludes critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, and Safety-Net Hospitals.

• Allows health care facilities to employ unqualified individuals only if they make diligent efforts to hire qualified surgical technologists and are unable to find a sufficient number, requiring documented proof of such efforts.

• Exempts individuals acting within the scope of their professional license or registration and students or interns under direct supervision of a licensed health care provider from the requirements.