Any employee of any state institution, agency, or department charged with the care, treatment, or diagnosis of persons infected with tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis who contracts tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis while employed by such institution, agency, or department may be carried on the payroll of such institution, agency, or department at one-half of his total compensation or $150.00 per month, whichever is less, for the duration of his disability due to tuberculosis or infectious hepatitis, not to exceed 350 weeks. In the event of death of the employee while receiving compensation under this Code section, such compensation shall immediately cease.