00HOUSE BILL NO. 448                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits."                                                
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 23.20.378(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
04  (a)  An insured worker is entitled to receive waiting-week credit or benefits for                                     
05 a week of unemployment if for that week the insured worker is able to work and                                         
06 actively seeking and available for suitable work.  An insured worker is not considered                                 
07 available for work unless registered for work in accordance with regulations adopted                                    
08 by the department.  An insured worker may not be disqualified for failure to comply                                     
09 with this subsection if                                                                                                 
10   (1)  the insured worker is not actively seeking or available for work                                              
11 because                                                                                                                 
12   (A)  the insured worker is ill or disabled;                                                                         
13   (B)  the insured worker is traveling to obtain medical services                                                     
14 that are not available in the area in which the insured worker resides, or, if a                                        

01 physician determines it is necessary, the insured worker is accompanying a                                              
02 spouse or dependent who is traveling to obtain medical services;                                                        
03   (C)  the insured worker resides in the state and is                                                                 
04 noncommercially hunting or fishing for personal survival or the survival of                                             
05 dependents; or                                                                                                          
06   (D)  the insured worker is serving as a prospective or impaneled                                                    
07 juror in a court; and                                                                                                   
08   (2)  a condition described in (1)(A) - (C) of this subsection occurs                                                 
09 during an uninterrupted period of unemployment immediately following a week for                                         
10 which the insured worker has filed a compensable claim, and work has not been                                           
11 offered that would have been suitable for the insured worker before the illness,                                        
12 disability, hunting, fishing, or medical travel.                                                                      
13    * Sec. 2.  AS 23.20.378 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                               
14  (d)  For purposes of this section, an insured worker is not considered to be                                          
15 actively seeking work for a week unless the worker submits a signed statement on                                        
16 a form provided by the department that the worker made at least five contacts                                           
17 seeking work during the previous week or unless the worker establishes to the                                           
18 satisfaction of the department that fewer contacts are reasonable given the nature                                      
19 of the worker's prior training, experience, and earnings, and the availability of                                       
20 employment in the area.  The form must advise the worker of the legal consequences                                      
21 under AS 11.56.210 and AS 23.20.387 of submitting a false statement.