Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
03/22/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB378 | |
| SB147 | |
| HB55 | |
| HB150 | |
| HB189 | |
| HB233 | |
| HB189 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 378 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 233 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 147-REEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
3:34:43 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 147(L&C), "An Act relating to
reemployment rights and benefits; and providing for an effective
date."
3:35:04 PM
SENATOR JAMES KAUFMAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSSB 147(L&C). He shared the sponsor
statement [included in committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
This bill seeks to address critical shortcomings in
Alaska's Workers' Compensation system.
Alaska's worker's compensation premium rates are the
4th highest in the nation. However, the maximum plan
cost of $13,300 set in the year 2000 has not been
adjusted for inflation, making the amount often
insufficient in meeting statutory requirements. The
current system also limits workers' flexibility in
moving to different occupations.
Alaska's attempts at ensuring quick, efficient, fair,
and predictable compensation to injured workers at a
reasonable cost to employers has not been working. In
recent years, an average of 140 out of 550 evaluations
performed each year were found eligible for the
current systems rehabilitation plan, yet only an
average of 13 workers fully finished the plan.
The Alaska workers' compensation plan has spent an
average of ten million dollars supporting these
injured workers over the same period. This is clearly
not an efficient system. The Alaska Workers'
Compensation Act last was updated in 2000 and again in
2005 with the addition of job relocation benefits, but
it is long past due that we address the other
shortcomings of the system.
The primary objective of this legislation is to ensure
that injured workers receive swift and fair access to
indemnity and medical benefits while also promoting
efficient return-to-work programs. SB 147 would
transition from an emphasis on retraining to an
emphasis on stay-at-work/early return-to-work. By
updating the system to better align with modern
realities, we can reduce the economic burden of
workplace injuries and illnesses on Alaskans, improve
employment retention, and get more Alaskans back to
work in our communities.
Employees and employers have a shared desire to get a
worker rehabilitated and back to work as quickly as
possible after an injury occurs. This legislation
intends to facilitate this by setting clearer
guidelines regarding the responsibilities of all
stakeholders.
Alaska can be a tough place to work, and injuries do
occur. It is important we as a state help these
injured workers rehabilitate with fair and predictable
compensation. That way, we can hopefully keep these
workers in our state and do our duty as a government
of protecting its citizens. I hope you will support
this important legislation.
CHAIR SUMNER opened invited testimony.
3:37:44 PM
CHUCK COLLINS, Director, Division of Workers' Compensation,
Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), gave invited
testimony during the hearing on CSSB 147(L&C). He referenced a
resolution that was sent to the House that requested an update
to AS 23.30.041, which covers rehabilitation benefits. He
stated that the plan amount of $13,300 is insufficient to
rehabilitate injured workers who qualify for the benefit. After
90 days, injured workers must receive an evaluation under
current law. He proposed increasing that 90-day period to 120
days and increasing the maximum plan cost from $13,300 to
$22,300, per the inflation index.
3:42:38 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that CSSB 147(L&C) was held over.
3:42:44 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN reported that Alaska employers spend in excess
of $600,000 annually for 13 completed plans. He urged the
committee to think about turning that potential into more
beneficial results.
[CSSB 147(L&C) was held over.]