00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 308                                                                          
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)  The protection of an insured worker under (a) of this section applies for a period                           
04 of 90 days beginning on the effective date of this section or the date the insured worker                               
05 applies for a benefit under AS 23.20, whichever is later.                                                               
06 (c)  For the duration of a state or national emergency for an outbreak of novel                                         
07 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the limitations under AS 23.20.375(b) do not apply to                                   
08 benefits payable to an insured worker under AS 23.20 (Alaska Employment Security Act)                                   
09 who is otherwise entitled to receive waiting-week credit or benefits under AS 23.20.375(a).                           
10 (d)  The provision of a benefit as permitted by this section is not a violation of                                      
11 AS 23.20.500.                                                                                                           
12 (e)  The commissioner of labor and workforce development shall administer this                                          
13 section as required under AS 23.20.005(b) and 23.20.095.                                                                
14       (f)  In this section, "insured worker" has the meaning given in AS 23.20.520.                                     
15    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
16 read:                                                                                                                   
17 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: DEPENDENT ALLOWANCE DURING                                                                      
18 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK. Notwithstanding AS 23.20.350(f) and to                                              
19 the extent consistent with federal law, for the duration of a state or national emergency for an                        
20 outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the allowance for dependents of an                                    
21 insured worker under AS 23.20 (Alaska Employment Security Act) who establishes a benefit                                
22 year under AS 23.20.350 is $75 per week for each dependent. The Department of Labor and                                 
23 Workforce Development may not limit the total allowances for dependents paid to the insured                             
24 worker for each week of unemployment. In this section, "dependent" has the meaning given                                
25 in AS 23.20.350(g).                                                                                                     
26    * Sec. 3. This Act is repealed April 1, 2021.                                                                      
27    * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
28 read:                                                                                                                   
29 TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The commissioner of labor and workforce                                                        
30 development may adopt regulations necessary to implement this Act. The regulations are not                              
31 subject to AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).                                                                     
01    * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).