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HF2525 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Public safety officer hearing protection program established, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF3020

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill aims to establish a program to provide hearing protection to public safety officers in Minnesota, ensuring their hearing health is safeguarded while performing their duties.

Main Provisions

  • Definitions: It provides a clear definition of terms such as "public safety officer," which includes peace officers, firefighters, and qualified emergency medical service providers. These officers are those actively serving within Minnesota.

  • Hearing Protection: The bill specifies the standards for hearing protection products, requiring them to be commercially available and reduce noise by at least 25 decibels without exceeding a maximum output of 80 decibels.

  • Program Administration: The commissioner of public safety is responsible for distributing these hearing protection products. Public safety personnel and agencies can apply to receive these devices at no cost, subject to availability.

  • Liability Limitation: Entities that provide hearing protection through this program are protected from liability claims if an officer is injured or dies due to a defect in the hearing protection provided.

Significant Changes

  • The bill introduces a state-supported program ensuring free access to hearing protection for public safety officers, which is not currently standard practice under existing law.

Appropriation

  • An appropriation of $2,000,000 is allocated from the state's general fund for the fiscal year 2026 to purchase hearing protection products directly from manufacturers.

Relevant Terms

public safety officer, hearing protection, noise reduction, peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical service provider, liability protection, appropriation.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy
March 26, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Defines eligibility for peace officers regarding hearing protection products."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Licensing reference for peace officers under section 626.84.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.84"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Determines 'qualified' status for emergency service providers based on certification."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Certification requirement for emergency medical service providers under section 144E.28.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "144E.28"
  }
]

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