A.  Any loss of hearing which is ten percent greater than that of the affected employee’s comparable age group in the general population and which develops during employment in the classified fire service in the state of Louisiana shall, for purposes of this Section only, be classified as a disease or infirmity connected with employment.  The employee affected shall be entitled to medical benefits including hearing prosthesis as granted by the laws of the state of Louisiana to which one suffering an occupational disease is entitled, regardless of whether the fireman is on duty at the time he is stricken with the loss of hearing.  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 the nature of the work performed whenever same is manifested at any time after the first five years of employment in such classified service.  This presumption shall be rebuttable by evidence meeting judicial standards and shall be extended to an employee following termination of service for a period of twenty-four months.

B.  Each person selected for appointment to an entry level position in the classified fire service on July 1, 2006, or thereafter shall submit to a baseline audiology examination.  The appointing authority shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the administration of such examination.  Such examination shall take place not later than one year after the selection of such person for such appointment.

Acts 2006, No. 649, §2, eff. July 1, 2006.