§ 7-51-209 — Presumptive disability in acquiring infectious diseases in the line of duty by emergency rescue workers

Tennessee § 7-51-209

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee
• Title: 7

Text

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) (A) "Body fluids" means blood and body fluids containing visible blood and other fluids to which universal precautions for prevention of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens, as established by the centers for disease control and prevention, apply; (B) For purposes of potential transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus, "body fluids" includes salivary and sinus fluids, including droplets, sputum, and saliva, mucous and other fluids through which human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus can be transmitted between persons; (2) (A) "Emergency rescue worker" means any person employed full-time by the state or any political subdivision of the state, including any county having a metropolitan form of government as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician or emergency medical technician advanced; (B) "Emergency rescue worker" does not include any person employed by a public hospital or any person employed by a subsidiary thereof; (3) "High risk of occupational exposure" means risk that is incurred because an emergency rescue worker, in performing the basic duties associated with such worker's employment: (A) Provides emergency medical treatment in a non-healthcare setting where there is a potential for transfer of body fluids between persons; or (B) At the site of an accident, fire or other rescue or public safety operation, or in an emergency rescue or public safety vehicle, handles body fluids in or out of containers or works with or otherwise handles needles or other sharp instruments exposed to body fluids; (4) "Infectious disease" means: (A) The human immunodeficiency virus; (B) Hepatitis C virus; and (C) A virus or other communicable disease for which: (i) A pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization or the federal centers for disease control and prevention; and (ii) The governor has declared a state of emergency pursuant to § 58-2-107 ; and (5) "Occupational exposure" in the case of infectious diseases, means an exposure that occurs during the performance of job duties that may place a worker at risk of infection. (b) (1) The general assembly finds that an emergency rescue worker, in the course of employment, runs a high risk of occupational exposure to infectious disease. (2) For reasons stated in subdivision (b)(1), an emergency rescue worker who suffers a condition or impairment of health that is caused by an infectious disease, and that results in total or partial disability or death is presumed to have a disability suffered in the line of duty, unless the contrary is shown by a preponderance of the evidence. However, in order to be entitled to the presumption, the emergency rescue worker must verify by written declaration that, to the best of the emergency rescue worker's knowledge and belief: In case of a medical condition caused by or derived from an infectious disease, the emergency rescue worker has not: (A) Been exposed outside the scope of the worker's employment, through transfer of bodily fluids, to a person known to have a sickness or medical condition derived from an infectious disease; (B) Had a transfusion of blood or blood components, other than a transfusion arising out of an accident or injury happening in connection with the worker's present employment, or received any blood products for the treatment of a coagulation disorder since last undergoing medical tests for infectious disease, which tests failed to indicate the presence of an infectious disease; (C) Engaged in unsafe sexual practices or other high-risk behavior, as identified by the centers for disease control and prevention or the surgeon general of the United States, or had sexual relations with a person known to the worker to have engaged in such unsafe sexual practices or other high-risk behavior; or (D) Used intravenous drugs not prescribed by a physician. (c) Whenever any standard, medically-recognized vaccine or other form of immunization exists for the prevention of an infectious disease for which a presumption is granted under this section, if medically indicated in the given circumstances pursuant to immunization policies established by the advisory committee on immunization practices of the United States public health service, an emergency rescue worker may be required by such worker's employer to undergo the immunization, unless the worker's physician determines in writing that the immunization or other prophylaxis would pose a significant risk to the worker's health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by an emergency rescue worker to undergo such immunization disqualifies the worker from the benefits of the presumption established by this section. (d) This section does not apply to benefits payable under or granted in a noncompulsory policy of life insurance or disability insurance, unless the insurer and insured have negotiated for such additional benefits to be included in the policy contract. However, the state or any political subdivision of the state, including any county having a metropolitan form of government, may negotiate a policy contract for life and disability insurance that includes accidental death benefits or double indemnity coverage for any condition or impairment of health suffered by an emergency rescue worker, which condition or impairment is caused by an infectious disease and results in total or partial disability or death. (e) An emergency rescue worker shall file an incident or accident report with the emergency rescue worker's employer of each instance of known or suspected occupational exposure to infectious disease as such is defined in subdivision (a)(4). The employer shall maintain a record of the incident or accident report so filed. Such report must be filed by the employee within seven (7) days of the incident or accident occurring. (f) (1) In order to be entitled to the presumption established by this section, an emergency rescue worker must, prior to diagnosis, have undergone standard, medically-acceptable tests for evidence of the infectious disease for which the presumption is sought, or evidence of medical conditions derived therefrom, which tests fail to indicate the presence of infection. (2) (A) On or after July 1, 2012, an emergency rescue worker may be required to undergo a preemployment physical examination that tests for any evidence of human immunodeficiency virus. In order to be entitled to the presumption established by this section, the test shall be negative for evidence of human immunodeficiency virus. (B) On or after July 1, 2015, an emergency rescue worker may be required to undergo a preemployment physical examination that tests for any evidence of infectious disease. In order to be entitled to the presumption established by this section, the test shall be negative for evidence of infectious disease. (g) This section does not apply to the Tennessee consolidated retirement system. (h) This section shall apply to any emergency rescue worker following termination of service for a period of one (1) year commencing with the last actual date of service. (i) This section shall not apply to cases involving a death of an emergency rescue worker in the line of duty. (j) The presumption established in this section shall not apply to the state death benefit. (k) This section shall not apply to full-time or part-time instructors of the department of commerce and insurance.

Legislative History

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 142, Secs.s 1, s 2 eff. 4/13/2021. Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 289, Secs.s 2, s 3, s 4 eff. 7/1/2015. Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 289, s 1, eff. 7/1/2015. Acts 2012 , ch. 958, §§ 2, 3.