§ 16-a. Death benefits due to diesel exposure. Where death is due in whole or part to any cancer resulting from a hazardous exposure to diesel exhaust, a claim for death benefits shall not be disallowed as barred by section eighteen or section twenty-eight of this article if such claim is filed within one year of the effective date of this section. Such claims may be filed after such period in accordance with section eighteen and section twenty-eight of this article.