§ 5-10-13-5 — Presumption that disability or death incurred in the line of duty

(a) Except as provided in section 6 of this
chapter, an employee who:
(1) is diagnosed with a health condition caused by an exposure
risk disease that:
(A) requires medical treatment; and
(B) results in total or partial disability or death;
(2) by written affidavit has provided to the employee's employer
a verification described in subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g);
and
(3) before the employee is diagnosed with a health condition
caused by hepatitis or tuberculosis, tests negative for evidence of
hepatitis or tuberculosis through medical testing;
is presumed to have a disability or death incurred in the line of duty.
(b) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed with
a health condition caused by hepatitis. If the health condition results in
disability or death and the employee wishes to have a presumption of
disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee,
the employee shall, by written affidavit executed before death, provide
verification that the employee has not:
(1) outside the scope of the employee's current employment, been
exposed through transfer of body fluids to an individual known to
have a medical condition caused by hepatitis;
(2) received blood products other than a transfusion received
because of an injury to the employee that occurred in the scope of
the employee's current employment;
(3) received blood products for the treatment of a coagulation
disorder since testing negative for hepatitis;
(4) engaged in sexual practices or other behavior identified as
high risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the
Surgeon General of the United States;
(5) had sexual relations with another individual known to the
employee to have engaged in sexual practices or other behavior
described in subdivision (4); or
(6) used intravenous drugs that were not prescribed by a
physician.
(c) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed with
a health condition caused by meningococcal meningitis. If the health
condition results in disability or death and the employee wishes to have
a presumption of disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply
to the employee, the employee shall, by written affidavit executed
before death, provide verification that the employee, in the ten (10)
days immediately preceding the diagnosis, was not exposed to another
individual known to:
(1) have meningococcal meningitis; or
(2) be an asymptomatic carrier of meningococcal meningitis;
outside the scope of the employee's current employment.
(d) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed with
a health condition caused by tuberculosis. If the health condition results
in disability or death and the employee wishes to have a presumption
of disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee,
the employee shall, by written affidavit executed before death, provide
verification that the employee has not, outside the scope of the
employee's current employment, been exposed to another individual
known to have tuberculosis.
(e) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed with
a health condition caused by HIV. If the health condition results in
disability or death and the employee wishes to have a presumption of
disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee,
the employee shall, by written affidavit executed before death, provide
verification that the employee has not:
(1) outside the scope of the employee's current employment, been
exposed through transfer of body fluids to an individual known to
have a medical condition caused by HIV;
(2) received blood products other than a transfusion received
because of an injury to the employee that occurred in the scope of
the employee's current employment;
(3) received blood products for the treatment of a coagulation
disorder since testing negative for HIV;
(4) engaged in sexual practices or other behavior identified as
high risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the
Surgeon General of the United States;
(5) had sexual relations with another individual known to the
employee to have engaged in sexual practices or other behavior
described in subdivision (4); or
(6) used intravenous drugs that were not prescribed by a
physician.
(f) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed with a
health condition caused by smallpox. If the health condition results in
disability or death and the employee wishes to have a presumption of
disability or death incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee,
the employee shall, by written affidavit executed before death, provide
verification that the employee has not, outside the scope of the
employee's current employment, been exposed to another individual
known to have smallpox.
(g) This subsection applies to an employee who is diagnosed after
June 30, 2021, with a health condition caused by any variant of severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), including coronavirus disease
(COVID-19). If the health condition results in disability or death and
the employee wishes to have a presumption of disability or death
incurred in the line of duty apply to the employee, the employee shall,
by written affidavit executed before death, provide verification that the
employee has not, outside the scope of the employee's current
employment, been exposed to another individual known to have any
variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), including
coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
(h) A presumption of disability or death incurred in the line of duty
may be rebutted by competent evidence.
(i) A meeting or hearing held to rebut a presumption of disability or
death incurred in the line of duty may be held as an executive session
under IC 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(1).

Legislative History

As added by P.L.185-2002, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.112-2020, SEC.2; P.L.143-2021, SEC.2.