Legislation Details

File #: Int 0997-2026    Version: * Name: Creating a pilot program to provide hearing protection equipment for city police officers and providing for the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 8/13/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to creating a pilot program to provide hearing protection equipment for city police officers and providing for the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof
Sponsors: David M. Carr, Oswald J. Feliz
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to create a one-year pilot program to provide in-ear electronic hearing protection equipment with a noise reduction rating of 25 decibels or more to city police officers. The bill would require the NYPD to provide information to officers about hearing loss prevention. The bill also would require the NYPD to publish a report on the pilot program’s effectiveness and whether it should be made permanent.
Indexes: Report Required, Sunset Date Applies
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 997, 2. Int. No. 997, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. August 13, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 997

 

By Council Members Carr and Feliz

 

A Local Law in relation to creating a pilot program to provide hearing protection equipment for city police officers and providing for the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Law enforcement hearing protection program. a. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the New York city police commissioner.

Department. The term “department” means the New York city police department.

Hearing protection equipment. The term “hearing protection equipment” means an electronic device worn in the ear canal that is capable of selectively reducing loud noise and is designed to prevent hearing loss.

Officer. The term “officer” means a uniformed member of the department.

b. Pilot program; duration; specifications. 1. The commissioner shall establish a pilot program to provide hearing protection equipment to officers whose work locations are not exclusively indoors. The commissioner shall provide equipment to officers in at least 1 precinct in each borough, and shall provide such equipment on a first-come, first-served basis.

2. Such pilot program shall commence no later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law. The duration of the pilot program shall be 1 year.

3. Hearing protection equipment procured pursuant to this subdivision must have a Noise Reduction Rating of 25 decibels or more, under the standards set forth by the United States occupational safety and health administration in part B of section 211 of title 40 of the code of federal regulations or a successor regulation.

c. Distribution of information. 1. The department shall share on its website and social media accounts, and in hard copy at precinct locations, information regarding the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss, best practices for prevention of hearing loss, and information regarding the availability of hearing protection equipment for officers.

2. The information required pursuant to this subdivision shall be made available on the department’s website in English and in each of the designated citywide languages, as defined in section 23-1101 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

d. Report. No later than 2 months after the conclusion of the pilot program required by subdivision b of this local law, the commissioner shall submit to the speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a report containing information about the law enforcement hearing protection program established pursuant to this local law, including:

1. The total cost of such pilot program;

2. The number of individuals who received hearing protection equipment pursuant to subdivision b of this section;

3. Analysis of the impact and effectiveness of such pilot program; and

4. Recommendations with respect to expanding or making such pilot program permanent.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and expires and is deemed repealed 24 months after it becomes law.

ST

LSR #25120

8/7/2026 4:07 PM