What's happening
This bill requires the New York Department of Health to study how long range acoustic devices affect individuals' hearing and report the findings within one year.
Why it matters
Public Health and Safety. The study could provide important data on whether Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), which are often used for crowd control or emergency warnings, pose risks to people’s hearing—potentially influencing future guidelines or restrictions on their use.
Impact on Law Enforcement and Protesters. Findings could affect how police and other agencies deploy LRADs during public events, demonstrations, or emergencies, possibly leading to new protocols to protect both officers and civilians.
Accountability and Transparency. By requiring a public report, the bill aims to make health risks and benefits of LRADs more transparent, which may empower communities and policymakers to make informed decisions about their deployment.
Potential for Further Legislation. Depending on the study’s outcomes, there could be momentum for additional laws regulating or banning LRAD use if significant health effects are found, impacting how New York and possibly other states manage crowd control technologies.
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Who cares
New York State Department of Health
The department would have to study the effects of long range acoustic device exposure, including short- and long-term hearing effects, and prepare a report within one year of the bill’s effective date.
Individuals exposed to long range acoustic devices
The study would evaluate how exposure affects them, including potential effects on their hearing.
Hearing health professionals
The required report would provide findings on the short- and long-term hearing effects of exposure to long range acoustic devices.
Headline styles
Study Loud Device Hearing Risks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4915
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT requiring a study to determine the effects that exposure to long range acoustic devices have on an individual's hearing; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of health shall engage in a study of long range acoustic devices (LRADs) and the effect of exposure on individuals, including the effect on short and long term hearing.
§ 2. Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, the department of health shall prepare a report setting forth and evaluating the findings of the study.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05272-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.