Legislature(2017 - 2018)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2018 09:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB112 | |
| SB38 | |
| SB205 | |
| HB79 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 112 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 38 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 205 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 112-WORKERS COMPENSATION;DRUG DATABASE & TEST
9:10:30 AM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of SB 112 and noted
the proposed committee substitute (CS).
9:10:54 AM
NATASHA MCCLENAHAN, Staff, Senator Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the following changes from
version L to S of SB 112:
• Retains language that repeals and reenacts AS
23.30.145 governing the award and payment of
attorney fees.
• Retains language amending AS 23.30.230(a) to
provide a definition of "independent contractor."
• Retains an applicability provision that states
secs. 1-2 of the Act apply to claims for injuries
filed on or after the effective dates of those
sections.
• Establishes the Workers' Compensation Working
Group in the Department of Commerce Community and
Economic Development, division of insurance, to
review the State's Worker's compensation system
and provide recommendations to the Legislature
for reforming the system. The workgroup shall
provide a report to the Legislature by December
1, 2018.
• Removes all other sections in Version L
9:12:22 AM
SENATOR MEYER moved to adopt the work draft CS for SSSB 112, 30-
LS0318\S, as the working document.
CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection and version S was adopted. She
said the bill retains two of the elements that came in the
second version as introduced by the sponsor. She worked with
parties involved in this issue and realized that it would be
best to create a working group, so the parties can work out
differences. The report to the legislature would be due December
1, 2018 and then the working group would disband on the last day
of January 2019.
9:13:41 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said she believes that attorneys for the
employers or insurance companies are often on retainer. The cost
or time to pursue a case is of no direct consequence to the
employer's attorney, but the injured worker's attorney is very
much impacted by the provision that limits what they can earn.
Section 1 would make it more difficult for injured workers to
get representation.
CHAIR COSTELLO said the next committee of referral can work with
the working group to resolve any issues it sees. She noted that
the bill goes to Senate Finance next.
9:15:00 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said she sees this as a Labor and Commerce
issue.
9:15:12 AM
SENATOR MEYER said his question is more finance related, but the
fiscal note adds 24 full-time employees for the Department of
Administration that come from the Workers' Compensation
Division. He asked if there will be a corresponding decrease
from the Workers' Compensation Division.
MS. MCCLENAHAN said that section that spurred that fiscal note
was removed from the current version of the bill.
SENATOR MEYER said then this is not the correct fiscal note for
the committee substitute.
MCCLENAHAN agreed.
SENATOR MEYER asked the sponsor of SB 112 to comment.
9:16:35 AM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 112, said she has no comment on the committee
substitute. She defers to the will of the committee.
SENATOR MEYER said this appears to be a compromise.
9:17:11 AM
SENATOR MEYER moved to report [the CS for SSSB 112], version S,
from committee with individual recommendations and forthcoming
fiscal note(s).
9:17:32 AM
SENATOR GARDNER objected.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked for a roll call vote.
9:17:59 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Micciche, Meyer, Costello
voted in favor of the motion and Senator Gardner voted against
it. Therefore, the motion to report CSSSSB 112(L&C) from
committee passed with a 3:1 vote.