§1374.1. Development of hearing loss during employment in the division of state police; occupational disease

            A. For the purpose of this Section, "division" has the same meaning as provided for in R.S. 40:1372.

            B.(1) Any loss of hearing that is ten decibels or greater on average for the frequencies that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration monitors for noise exposure in the general population when adjusted for aging and that develops during employment in the division shall, for purposes of this Section only, be classified as a disease or infirmity connected with employment.

            (2) The employee affected shall be entitled to medical benefits, including hearing aids, as granted by the laws of this state to which one suffering an occupational disease is entitled, regardless of whether the employee is on duty at the time that the employee is stricken with the loss of hearing.

            (a) Such loss of hearing shall be presumed to have developed during employment and shall be presumed to have been caused by or to have resulted from hazardous noise exposure when diagnostic hearing testing reveals a decrease of ten decibels or more for the frequencies that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration monitors for noise exposure from the baseline audiological evaluation.

            (b) This presumption shall be rebuttable by a preponderance of evidence, and such presumption shall be overcome if the evidence does not establish that the nature of the work performed was the predominant and major cause of the hearing loss.

            (c) The presumption shall be extended to an employee following termination of service for a period of twenty-four months.

            C.(1) Each person selected for appointment to an entry level position in the division on and after August 1, 2024, shall submit to a baseline audiology examination, an audiological examination every five years, and a final termination audiological evaluation at the end of service. An employee shall receive his baseline examination not later than one year after his appointment.

            (2) The appointing authority shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the administration of such examinations.

            D.(1) Nothing in this Section shall modify the qualifications necessary to establish eligibility to receive benefits or the calculation of benefits to be paid in accordance with any Louisiana public pension or retirement system, plan, or fund.

            (2) In case of a conflict between any provision of Title 11 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and any provision of this Section, the provision of Title 11 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 shall control.

            Acts 2024, No. 687, §1.