SB 1121 — radiation protection systems; medical procedures

SenateHouse Engrossed Senate Bill radiation protection systems;

medical procedures State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session CHAPTER 142 SENATE BILL 1121 AN ACT AMENDING TITLE 36, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 36-420.06;

definitionsdefinition A.

A HOSPITAL THAT PERFORMS CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION PROCEDURES INVOLVING REAL-TIME X-RAY IMAGING MAY NOT REQUIRE THAT PHYSICIANS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, NURSES OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WEAR LEAD APRONS DURING THESE PROCEDURES IF THE PROCEDURE ROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM AND THE RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM IS IN USE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS.INSTRUCTIONS, EXCEPT IF THE HOSPITAL'S RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER OR THE RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER'S DESIGNEE DETERMINES ACCORDING TO THE "AS LOW AS REASONABLY ACHIEVABLE" STANDARD THAT STAFF EXPOSURES WILL APPROACH OCCUPATIONAL DOSE THRESHOLDS OR ELEVATED EXPOSURE, THE HOSPITAL'S RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER OR THE RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER'S DESIGNEE MAY REQUIRE LEAD APRONS, THYROID COLLARS OR OTHER RADIATION PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.

IF A HOSPITALHEALTH SHALLPROFESSIONAL REQUIRECHOOSES THATTO HEALTHNOT PROFESSIONALS WEAR A LEAD APRONSAPRON DURINGBECAUSE PROCEDURESTHE IN PROCEDURE ROOMSROOM THATIS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEMSSYSTEM, IFTHE HOSPITAL SHALL REQUIRE THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ISTO NOTWEAR WORKINGA PRIMARILYREAL-TIME INDOSIMETER THEDEVICE RADIATIONTO PROTECTIONMONITOR SYSTEM'SRADIATION DESIGNATEDEXPOSURE SAFETYIN ZONE.REAL TIME.

IF A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO IS WORKING PRIMARILY IN THE RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM'S DESIGNATED SAFETY ZONE CHOOSES TO NOT WEAR A LEAD APRON BECAUSE THE PROCEDURE ROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM, THE HOSPITAL SHALL REQUIRE THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO WEAR A REAL-TIME DOSIMETER TO MONITOR RADIATION EXPOSURE.

D.

E.D.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:SECTION, "RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM" MEANS A SHIELDING SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST SCATTER OR DIRECT IONIZING RADIATION EXPOSURE, THAT PROVIDES PROTECTION EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS OF A .25 MILLIMETER LEAD-EQUIVALENT APRON.

1.APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 19, 2026.

"DESIGNATEDFILED SAFETYIN ZONE" MEANS THE SPECIFICOFFICE AREAOF WITHINTHE ASECRETARY PROCEDUREOF ROOMSTATE THATJUNE IS22, IDENTIFIED2026. BY A HOSPITAL AS PROVIDING PRIMARY RADIATION SHIELDING OR EXPOSURE REDUCTION.

2.

"RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM" MEANS A SHIELDING SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST SCATTER OR DIRECT IONIZING RADIATION EXPOSURE, THAT PROVIDES PROTECTION EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS OF A .25 MILLIMETER LEAD-EQUIVALENT APRON AND THAT INCLUDES REAL-TIME DOSIMETRY TO MEASURE RADIATION EXPOSURE TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT AN IONIZING RADIATION MEDICAL PROCEDURE.

Sec.

2.

Expedited rulemaking Notwithstanding any other law, the department of health services may adopt rules necessary to implement this act using an expedited rulemaking process pursuant to section 41-1027, Arizona Revised Statutes.