2005-03-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0468
Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Second Injury Fund will not                                   
accept new claims and will be phased out as currently accepted claims                               
are paid.                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
The bill would increase the coordination of benefits between the                                    
workers' compensation system and other disability systems.  This                                    
would minimize the instances where double compensation results in a                                 
worker receiving combined disability benefits that exceed their take                                
home pay.  Finally, the bill would also cap the compensation rates of                               
workers residing outside the State of Alaska to bring them in line with                             
that paid to Alaska resident workers.                                                               
                                                                                                    
This bill represents a major step in bringing the existing system up to                             
date with the current State of Alaska's work force.  These changes to                               
specific parts of the existing law are vital to the continuing survival of                          
the workers' compensation system and the availability of a full range                               
of benefits for injured workers in the future.                                                      
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this matter.                                             
                                                                                                    
Sincerely yours,                                                                                    
/s/                                                                                                 
Frank H. Murkowski                                                                                  
Governor                                                                                            
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                         Consideration of the Calendar                                           
                                                                                                    
                        Second Reading of Senate Bills                                           
                                                                                                    
SB 52                                                                                             
SENATE BILL NO. 52 "An Act relating to the reorganization of                                        
certain functions of the division of banking, securities, and                                       
corporations and the division of occupational licensing in the                                      
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development;                                        
and providing for an effective date" was read the second time.                                      
                                                                                                    
Senator Bunde, Chair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the                                     
adoption of the Labor and Commerce Committee Substitute offered on                                  
page 316. Without objection, CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 52(L&C)                                         
"An Act relating to certain functions of the division of banking,