Bill > SF3020

This bill establishes a Public Safety Officer Hearing Protection Program that provides free hearing protection devices to public safety officers, including peace officers, firefighters, and qualified emergency medical service providers. The program allows these professionals and their agency heads to request specialized hearing protection products with a minimum noise reduction rating of 25 decibels from the commissioner of public safety. The products will be distributed at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted. The bill defines key terms such as "hearing protection product" and specifies that these are commercial off-the-shelf, in-the-canal devices. Additionally, the bill includes a liability protection clause that shields state agencies, government employees, and other entities from legal action if the hearing protection product is found to be defective. To fund the program, the bill appropriates $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to purchase hearing protection products directly from a manufacturer. The goal of the program appears to be protecting public safety officers from hearing damage during their professional duties.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF3020&ssn=0&y=2025