Bill Text: NJ A994 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires all personal audio players distributed in New Jersey to contain warning about volume and hearing loss.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee [A994 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A994-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman JASON O'DONNELL
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Coutinho, Schroeder, Giblin, Caputo and Benson
SYNOPSIS
Requires all personal audio players distributed in New Jersey to contain warning about volume and hearing loss.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning personal audio players, and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Manufacturer" means a person who manufactures or imports a personal audio player for distribution in this State.
"Personal audio player" means a personal, electronic device that allows the user to listen to audio while mobile.
2. No manufacturer shall distribute a personal audio player in this State unless the manufacturer affixes a warning label on the personal audio player that reads as follows: "WARNING: This product may cause hearing damage. A volume level of 115 decibels may cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure."
3. Any person who violates the provisions of this act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each offense. Any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this act may be collected by the Attorney General with costs in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill is in response to the harmful volume levels at which users of portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players or iPods) are able to listen. Many of these portable audio players can be listened to at volumes of up to 130 decibels. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States Department of Labor has stated that significant hearing loss can occur in 15 minutes at a volume of 115 decibels.
This bill prohibits a manufacturer from distributing a personal audio player in this State unless the manufacturer affixes a warning label on the personal audio player that reads as follows: "WARNING: This product may cause hearing damage. A volume level of 115 decibels may cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure."
The bill defines a "personal audio player" as a personal, electronic device that allows the user to listen to audio while mobile.
The bill further provides that any person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each offense.
