HB 151: "An Act relating to unemployment benefits during a period of state or national emergency resulting from a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak; and providing for an effective date."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 151 01 "An Act relating to unemployment benefits during a period of state or national 02 emergency resulting from a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak; and 03 providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 06 to read: 07 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: BENEFIT QUALIFICATION AND WAITING 08 WEEK DURING NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK. (a) To the extent 09 consistent with federal law, an insured worker who is otherwise qualified to receive a benefit 10 under AS 23.20 (Alaska Employment Security Act) may not be disqualified for failure to 11 comply with AS 23.20.378(a) because of conduct by the insured worker or the employer of 12 the insured worker related to an outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including 13 conduct involving 14 (1) providing care, including medical care, to one or more persons;
01 (2) preventing or limiting the spread of COVID-19; or 02 (3) preventing or limiting economic loss or harm. 03 (b) For the duration of a state or national emergency for an outbreak of novel 04 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the limitations under AS 23.20.375(b) do not apply to 05 benefits payable to an insured worker under AS 23.20 (Alaska Employment Security Act) 06 who is otherwise entitled to receive waiting-week credit or benefits under AS 23.20.375(a). 07 (c) The provision of a benefit as permitted by this section is not a violation of 08 AS 23.20.500. 09 (d) The commissioner of labor and workforce development shall administer this 10 section as required under AS 23.20.005(b) and 23.20.095. 11 (e) In this section, "insured worker" has the meaning given in AS 23.20.520. 12 * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 13 read: 14 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: DEPENDENT ALLOWANCE DURING 15 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK. Notwithstanding AS 23.20.350(f) and to 16 the extent consistent with federal law, for the duration of a state or national emergency for an 17 outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the allowance for dependents of an 18 insured worker under AS 23.20 (Alaska Employment Security Act) who establishes a benefit 19 year under AS 23.20.350 is $75 per week for each dependent. The Department of Labor and 20 Workforce Development may not limit the total allowances for dependents paid to the insured 21 worker for each week of unemployment. In this section, "dependent" has the meaning given 22 in AS 23.20.350(g). 23 * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 24 read: 25 TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The commissioner of labor and workforce 26 development may adopt regulations necessary to implement this Act. The regulations are not 27 subject to AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act). 28 * Sec. 4. This Act is repealed September 6, 2021. 29 * Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 30 read: 31 RETROACTIVITY. Sections 1 - 3 of this Act are retroactive to April 1, 2021.
01 * Sec. 6. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).