HF 2525

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/01/2025 12:37 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a public safety officer hearing protection
program; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER HEARING PROTECTION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given:
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new text begin (1) "commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety;
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new text begin (2) "firefighter" means a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter serving
a general population within the boundaries of the state;
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new text begin (3) "hearing protection product" means a commercial off-the-shelf, multiuse, completely
in the canal hearing protection product with a minimum noise reduction rating of 25 decibels
and a maximum output of 80 decibels;
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new text begin (4) "peace officer" means a person who is licensed under Minnesota Statutes, section
626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c);
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new text begin (5) "public safety officer" means a peace officer, firefighter, or qualified emergency
medical service provider; and
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new text begin (6) "qualified emergency medical service provider" means a person certified under
Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.28, who is actively employed by a Minnesota licensed
ambulance service.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin State and local eligibility. new text end

new text begin Public safety officers and heads of agencies and
entities who buy hearing protection products for public safety officer employees may request
hearing protection products from the commissioner on a form prepared by the commissioner.
While the supply lasts, the commissioner must make hearing protection products available
to qualified applicants at no cost in the order the applications are received.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Limitation of liability. new text end

new text begin A state agency, political subdivision of the state, state
or local government employee, or other entity that provides a public safety officer with a
hearing protection product under this section is not liable to the public safety officer or
public safety officer's heirs for negligence in the death of or injury to the public safety officer
because the hearing protection product was defective or deficient.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER HEARING PROTECTION
PROGRAM.
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new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of public safety to purchase hearing protection products directly from a manufacturer for
the public safety officer hearing protection program established in section 1.
new text end