Section 36-30-21

Authorized.

If a policeman or state trooper who qualifies for benefits under the provisions of this article suffers disability as a result of a policeman's occupational disease, his disability shall be compensable the same as any service-connected disability under any law which provides benefits for policemen of such municipality, or, if a state trooper, under the state Employees' Retirement System, the same as if injured in the line of duty. If a policeman or state trooper who qualifies for benefits under the provisions of this article dies as a result of a policeman's occupational disease, his death shall be compensable to the same extent as the death of a policeman or state trooper killed in the line of duty; provided, that this article shall not apply to any municipality which has elected to be covered by the workers' compensation laws of this state.

(Acts 1971, No. 1213, p. 2115, §4.)