Legislature(1997 - 1998)
05/01/1998 03:32 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CSSB 336(L&C) - WORKERS' COMP: EXEMPT HOCKEY PLAYERS Number 0528 CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced the committee's next order of business was CSSB 336(L&C), "An Act relating to excluding professional hockey team members from workers' compensation coverage." Number 0545 ANNETTE KREITZER, Legislative Assistant to Senator Loren Leman, presented SB 336. She stated Senator Leman, the chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee, was approached by the Anchorage Aces about taking the Florida approach to providing coverage for hockey players. The Anchorage Aces' concern was the cost of the workers' compensation program. Ms. Kreitzer said the team was advised to go to the Division of Insurance [Department of Commerce and Economic Development] and the Division of Workers' Compensation [Department of Labor] to see if this problem could be resolved that way. She noted the Anchorage Aces had gone through that process and she said Paul Grossi, the director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, was present to speak about the division's position. Ms. Kreitzer reviewed the sponsor statement, explaining that the coaches would be covered because they were player coaches and she indicated the Anchorage Aces were aware of the liability concerns raised by the Division of Insurance. She indicated the Division of Workers' Compensation had also advised the Anchorage Aces' ownership of the risks, and the ownership still wished to go forward with the idea, believing that it put them in a better financial position. Ms. Kreitzer said the player representative who had testified said the players went along with the idea and were willing to move forward. She noted other committees had been concerned about how the players felt. The sponsor statement read: This bill amends Worker's Compensation provisions by adding professional hockey teams to the list of persons not covered under AS 23.30.230. In exchange for this exemption, a team owner would have to provide a medical and disability program to cover the players (and anyone else associated with the team who is in the same Worker's Comp risk category, e.g., coaches, assistant coaches, but not office personnel) 100% of the time - whether on duty, travel or their own time. The owner is responsible for the cost of the premiums on this coverage. The idea is taken from Florida's approach to this problem. The committee was asked to introduce this legislation by the sole professional hockey team in the state, the Anchorage Aces. The Department of Labor, Division of Worker's Compensation has reviewed the legislation and is neutral on the bill. Number 0623 CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said he had heard the testimony on the bill in a Senate committee and indicated he wondered why there wasn't a supporting letter in the bill packet from Mr. Cusack (ph). MS. KREITZER confirmed that a letter from Mr. Cusack (ph) had not been omitted from the bill packet. Number 0653 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if other professional hockey associations had similar coverage for their players. Number 0659 MS. KREITZER replied there had been testimony that there was a western hockey association with, apparently, many similarities in coverage. She said this particular idea was taken from Florida, which used this approach. Ms. Kreitzer said she could not say specifically how many of the teams in the western region took the same approach. Number 0675 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if this was common with other sporting events such as football or basketball. Number 0681 MS. KREITZER said she did not know the answer to that question. She noted there had been discussion about it but she did not feel competent to answer. Number 0689 REPRESENTATIVE RYAN commented he had been a paid licensed football official 25 or 30 years ago. He said he practiced that profession for some time and was never covered by any insurance or had any problem with it. Number 0706 CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG indicated the bill packet spoke of soccer players in the Eastern Indoor Soccer League in the state of Florida. He asked Mr. Grossi if he had any comments. PAUL GROSSI, Director, Division of Workers' Compensation, Department of Labor, replied he was available for questions. CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG asked Mr. Grossi if he could find out if other states had exemptions from workers' compensation for professional athletes, indicating the chairman wished the information before the legislation reached the House floor. Mr. GROSSI replied he would try. Number 0729 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move CSSB 336(L&C) with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note. There being no objections, CSSB 336(L&C) was moved out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
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