Veteran Infection Prevention Act

Section 2(b)(2): Current sterile processing employees who do not have their certification will be awarded a scholarship by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to cover the certification described in section 7402(b)(14). This is a positive outcome because it financially assists current workers in meeting the new job requirements without forcing them to pay out of pocket.

Section 2(b)(2)(B): The required service period for current employees who receive the scholarship is only one day beginning on the day they receive their certification. This is beneficial for the workers because they are not locked into a long-term mandatory service contract in exchange for the scholarship help.

Section 2(a): People newly appointed to non-entry-level sterile processing technician positions must become certified by an accredited institution within two years of their appointment. This places a time-sensitive burden on new workers to complete training and testing while on the job.

Section 2(b)(1): Current employees who do not have their certification must comply with the new certification rule 18 months after the enactment of the Act. This creates a strict deadline that existing workers must meet to keep working in their positions.