This bill mandates that state employers comply with safety standards equivalent to those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It amends RSA 277:1 to require that employers provide a level of protection for employees that is at least as effective as the standards established under RSA 277:16. The bill also introduces a new paragraph in RSA 277:16, granting the commissioner the authority to adopt rules to implement these safety standards, review them annually, and update them as necessary. The commissioner is tasked with ensuring that the standards are at least as effective as federal OSHA standards, with specific exceptions noted for certain subparts.

Additionally, the bill allows for the hiring of up to six full-time labor inspectors and one support staff member to enforce these standards, with the associated costs charged against the Department of Labor's administration fund or a restricted fund. The estimated fiscal impact includes costs exceeding $639,000 in FY 2026, with subsequent years showing slightly lower costs. The bill is expected to have indeterminable impacts on state, county, and local expenditures as they adapt to the new safety requirements, while potential revenue from civil penalties for non-compliance is also noted but cannot be quantified at this time. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 277:1, 277:16