00                            SENATE BILL NO. 159                                                                         
01 "An Act increasing the maximum funeral expenses payable as a workers' compensation                                      
02 death benefit; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 23.30.215(a) is amended to read:                                                                   
05            (a)  If the injury causes death, the compensation is known as a death benefit                                
06       and is payable in the following amounts to or for the benefit of the following persons:                           
07                 (1)  reasonable and necessary funeral expenses not exceeding $10,000                                
08       [$5,000];                                                                                                         
09                 (2)  if there is a widow or widower or a child or children of the                                       
10       deceased, the following percentages of the spendable weekly wages of the deceased:                                
11                      (A)  80 percent for the widow or widower with no children;                                         
12                      (B)  50 percent for the widow or widower with one child and 40                                     
13            percent for the child;                                                                                       
14                      (C)  30 percent for the widow or widower with two or more                                          

01            children and 70 percent divided equally among the children;                                                  
02                      (D)  100 percent for an only child when there is no widow or                                       
03            widower;                                                                                                     
04                      (E)  100 percent, divided equally, if there are two or more                                        
05            children and no widow or widower;                                                                            
06                 (3)  if the widow or widower remarries, the widow or widower is                                         
07       entitled to be paid in one sum an amount equal to the compensation to which the                                   
08       widow or widower would otherwise be entitled in the two years commencing on the                                   
09       date of remarriage as full and final settlement of all sums due the widow or widower;                             
10                 (4)  if there is no widow or widower or child or children, then for the                                 
11       support of father, mother, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters, if dependent upon the                        
12       deceased at the time of injury, 42 percent of the spendable weekly wage of the                                    
13       deceased to such beneficiaries, share and share alike, not to exceed $20,000 in the                               
14       aggregate;                                                                                                        
15                 (5)  $5,000 to a surviving widow or widower, or equally divided among                                   
16       surviving children of the deceased if there is no widow or widower.                                               
17    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
18 read:                                                                                                                   
19       APPLICABILITY. The death benefit for funeral expenses under AS 23.30.215(a)(1),                                   
20 as amended by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to an injury occurring on or after the effective date                         
21 of this Act.                                                                                                            
22    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).