Section 617.485 - Hepatitis as occupational disease of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical attendants1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and except as otherwise provided in this section, if an employee has hepatitis, the disease is conclusively presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of his or her employment if the employee has been continuously employed for 5 years or more as a police officer, full-time salaried firefighter or emergency medical attendant in this State before the date of any temporary or permanent disability or death resulting from the hepatitis.2. Compensation awarded to a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant, or to the dependents of such a person, for hepatitis pursuant to this section must include: (a) Full reimbursement for related expenses incurred for medical treatments, surgery and hospitalization; and(b) The compensation provided in chapters 616A to 616D, inclusive, of NRS for the disability or death.3. A police officer, salaried firefighter or emergency medical attendant shall: (a) Submit to a blood test to screen for hepatitis C upon employment, upon the commencement of coverage and thereafter on an annual basis during his or her employment.(b) Submit to a blood test to screen for hepatitis A and hepatitis B upon employment, upon the commencement of coverage and thereafter on an annual basis during his or her employment, except that a police officer, salaried firefighter or emergency medical attendant is not required to submit to a blood test to screen for hepatitis A and hepatitis B on an annual basis during his or her employment if he or she has been vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B upon employment or at other medically appropriate times during his or her employment. Each employer shall provide a police officer, salaried firefighter or emergency medical attendant with the opportunity to be vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B upon employment and at other medically appropriate times during his or her employment.4. All blood tests required pursuant to this section and all vaccinations provided pursuant to this section must be paid for by the employer.5. The provisions of this section: (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), do not apply to a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant who is diagnosed with hepatitis upon employment.(b) Apply to a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant who is diagnosed with hepatitis upon employment if, during the employment or within 1 year after the last day of the employment, he or she is diagnosed with a different strain of hepatitis.(c) Apply to a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant who is diagnosed with hepatitis after the termination of the employment if the diagnosis is made within 1 year after the last day of the employment.6. A police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant who is determined to be:(a) Partially disabled from an occupational disease pursuant to the provisions of this section; and(b) Incapable of performing, with or without remuneration, work as a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical attendant, may elect to receive the benefits provided pursuant to NRS 616C.440 for a permanent total disability.
7. As used in this section: (a) "Emergency medical attendant" means a person licensed as an attendant or certified as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic pursuant to chapter 450B of NRS, whose primary duties of employment are the provision of emergency medical services.(b) "Hepatitis" includes hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and any additional diseases or conditions that are associated with or result from hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.(c) "Police officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, officer of a metropolitan police department or city police officer.Added to NRS by 2001, 1874; A 2003, 3413; 2005, 346; 2013, 965Amended by 2013, Ch. 226,§47, eff. 5/28/2013, op. 1/1/2014.Added to NRS by 2001, 1874; A 2003, 3413; 2005, 346