2004-04-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 3076
SB 311                                                                                            
The Finance Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 311 "An Act                                        
providing for a special deposit for workers' compensation insurers;                                 
relating to the board of governors of the Alaska Insurance Guaranty                                 
Association; relating to covered workers' compensation claims paid by                               
the Alaska Insurance Guaranty Association; stating the intent of the                                
legislature, and setting out limitations, concerning the interpretation,                            
construction, and implementation of workers' compensation laws;                                     
relating to restructuring the Alaska workers' compensation system;                                  
eliminating the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board; establishing a                                  
division of workers' compensation within the Department of Labor and                                
Workforce Development and assigning certain Alaska Workers'                                         

2004-04-26                     Senate Journal                      Page 3077
Compensation Board functions to the division and the Department of                                  
Labor and Workforce Development; establishing a Workers'                                            
Compensation Appeals Commission; assigning certain functions of the                                 
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board to the Workers' Compensation                                     
Appeals Commission; relating to agreements that discharge workers'                                  
compensation liability; providing for hearing officers in workers'                                  
compensation proceedings; relating to workers' compensation awards;                                 
relating to an employer's failure to insure and keep insured or provide                             
security; providing for appeals from compensation orders; relating to                               
workers' compensation proceedings; providing for supreme court                                      
jurisdiction of appeals from the Workers' Compensation Appeals                                      
Commission; providing for a maximum amount for the cost-of- living                                  
adjustment for workers' compensation benefits; providing for                                        
administrative penalties for employers uninsured or without adequate                                
security for workers' compensation; relating to assigned risk pools and                             
insurers; and providing for an effective date" and recommended the                                  
adoption of the Judiciary Committee Substitute offered on page 2900.                                
                                                                                                    
Signing do pass: Senators Green, Wilken, Cochairs; Senators Bunde,                                  
Ben Stevens. Signing do not pass: Senators Hoffman, Olson. Signing                                  
no recommendation: Senator Dyson.                                                                   
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 6, Department of Labor and Workforce                                               
          Development                                                                               
                                                                                                    
The following previously published fiscal information applies:                                      
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Community and Economic                                      
          Development                                                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Law                                                         
 Fiscal Note No. 4, indeterminate, Department of Administration                                     
 Fiscal Note No. 5, Alaska Court System                                                             
                                                                                                    
The bill was referred to the Rules Committee.