Bill Text: NH HB353 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to hearing protection for employees of nightclubs and music venues.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-15 - Executive Session: 01/28/2025 10:00 am Legislative Office Building 307 [HB353 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB353-Introduced.html
HB 353 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0378
05/06
HOUSE BILL 353
AN ACT relative to hearing protection for employees of nightclubs and music venues.
SPONSORS: Rep. MacKenzie, Hills. 40
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs nightclub and music venues to provide hearing protection for employees when the sound levels exceed certain decibels and provides for rulemaking and enforcement through the department of labor.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0378
05/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to hearing protection for employees of nightclubs and music venues.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Labor; Safety and Health of Employment; Hearing Protection for Employees in Nightclubs and Music Venues. Amend RSA 277 by inserting after section 11 the following new section:
277:11-a Hearing Protection for Employees in Nightclubs and Music Venues.
I. Employers who operate nightclubs or music venues shall be responsible for monitoring sound levels to determine the level at the venue.
II. If the sound levels reach a sustained level of 85 decibels over 2 hours, the employer shall take action to protect the hearing of the exposed employees.
III. If the sound level exceeds 90 decibels over an hour the employer shall immediately take steps to protect the exposed worker.
2 Rulemaking. Amend RSA 277:16, I to read as follows:
I. The commissioner of labor shall adopt such rules, under RSA 541-A, as he or she deems reasonable and necessary in order to carry out properly the provisions of RSA 277:10, [and] 277:11, and 277:11-a.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
