00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 271                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to recovery of punitive damages resulting from an aviation accident;                                   
02 and providing for an effective date."                                                                                   
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 09.17.020(h) is amended to read:                                                                  
05            (h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in an action against                                        
06                 (1)  an employer to recover damages for an unlawful employment                                      
07       practice prohibited by AS 18.80.220, the amount of punitive damages awarded by the                                
08       court or jury may not exceed                                                                                      
09                      (A) [(1)]  $200,000 if the employer has fewer [LESS] than 100                              
10            employees in this state;                                                                                     
11                      (B) [(2)]  $300,000 if the employer has 100 or more but fewer                              
12            [LESS] than 200 employees in this state;                                                                     
13                      (C) [(3)]  $400,000 if the employer has 200 or more but fewer                              
14            [LESS] than 500 employees in this state; and                                                                 

01                      (D) [(4)]  $500,000 if the employer has 500 or more employees                                  
02            in this state; and                                                                                       
03                 (2)  an owner or operator of an aviation business to recover                                        
04       damages resulting from an aviation accident, the amount of punitive damages                                   
05       awarded by the court or jury may not exceed                                                                   
06                      (A)  $500,000 if the owner or operator has fewer than 100                                      
07            employees in this state;                                                                                 
08                      (B)  $750,000 if the owner or operator has 100 or more but                                     
09            fewer than 200 employees in this state; and                                                              
10                      (C)  $1,000,000 if the owner or operator has 200 or more                                       
11            employees in this state.                                                                                 
12    * Sec. 2.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
13 read:                                                                                                                   
14       APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to a cause of action that accrues on or after the                                
15 effective date of this Act.                                                                                             
16    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect on July 1, 2001.