Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2004-02-16 House Journal
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Full Journal pdf2004-02-16 House Journal Page 2614 decision granting the plaintiff unemployment benefits did not automatically require a finding of wrongful termination in a later court case. Unemployment claims rarely provide an incentive for the employer to participate, much less spend a significant amount of time and money investigating the facts and bringing those facts to the attention of the hearing officer. Employers have little incentive to participate in an unemployment benefits claim hearing since their bottom line is only marginally affected by the outcome. This gives an employee the opportunity to receive a favorable decision in an uncontested unemployment benefits claim and unfairly leverage that decision against the employer in a later court case. Finally, the bill makes a number of changes to bring Alaska law into compliance with federal law, resolves conflicts in Alaska statutes and makes other technical amendments. Other changes include provisions dealing with payment and collection of unemployment taxes by DOL from employers, expanding the ability of DOL to collect overpayments of unemployment compensation benefits on behalf of other states, clarifying which health professionals are excluded from the Alaska Employment Security Act, and clarifying that the definition of "wages" does not include education assistance. Of these, the principal change would remove the requirement that unemployment compensation be deposited into the unclaimed property fund. Federal law requires such funds to be deposited into the unemployment insurance trust fund. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely yours, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor" HB 491 HOUSE BILL NO. 491 by Representatives Kerttula and McGuire, entitled: "An Act relating to the Alaska Securities Act and adopting provisions of the Uniform Securities Act."