Alaska Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 74: An Act relating to an interstate physical therapy licensure compact; relating to the licensure of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes an interstate compact to allow physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants to practice across state lines more easily. It requires the state licensing board to implement this compact and outlines standard qualifications for licensure, including graduation from an accredited program, passing a national exam, and completing a criminal background check. By adopting these regulations, the legislation aims to streamline the process for healthcare professionals seeking to work in multiple states while maintaining consistent safety and competency standards.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 26: An Act relating to the official languages of the State of Alaska; renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; relating to the transfer of the Council for Alaska Native Languages from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to the Department of Education and Early Development; and relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages.

This bill officially recognizes eleven Alaska Native languages alongside English as the state's official languages and moves the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to the Department of Education and Early Development. The renamed Council for Alaska Native Languages will advise the governor and legislature on programs to preserve and revitalize these languages, with its members required to include professional language experts and representatives from diverse regions. While the council will meet at least twice a year to provide recommendations, the law clarifies that official public documents must still be prepared in English. Additionally, the legislation includes a transition provision to ensure that staff currently working for the council do not automatically transfer to the new department when the council's location changes.

Andi Story (D) · 26 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 202: An Act relating to the availability and administration of opioid overdose drugs in public schools; relating to correspondence study programs; and relating to allotments for correspondence study programs; and relating to an annual report relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants and opioid overdose drug distribution; and providing for an effective date.

This bill requires school districts in Alaska to have trained staff and at least two doses of opioid overdose medication available at their main buildings during all times students or staff are present, including before and after school hours and on weekends. It also mandates that one dose be available during any school-sponsored events held on school grounds, with the state Department of Health responsible for supplying the drugs and providing training videos for administration. To encourage participation, the legislation grants immunity from civil lawsuits to schools and individuals who fail to maintain these supplies due to good-faith efforts. Additionally, the bill updates rules for homeschool and correspondence study programs by requiring annual individual learning plans developed collaboratively with students, parents, and teachers. These plans must include state standards, ongoing assessments, and provisions for modifying the curriculum if a student struggles in core subjects.

DeLena Johnson (R) · 39 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 22: An Act establishing Juneteenth Day as a legal holiday.

This bill establishes Juneteenth Day, observed on June 19th, as an official legal holiday in Alaska. By amending state statutes, it adds this date to the list of recognized days when businesses and government offices are closed, joining existing holidays like Independence Day and Memorial Day. The legislation also adjusts the numbering of other holidays in the state code to accommodate this new addition.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 67: An Act relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date.

This bill restricts the use of firefighting substances containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances within Alaska, with specific exceptions for the oil and gas industry unless state regulations mandate otherwise. It requires the state fire marshal to adopt rules that mandate the use of safer, alternative firefighting substances if those alternatives are deemed safe and effective by recognized federal testing programs. Additionally, the legislation ensures that the state will accept up to 25 gallons per year of these restricted substances for disposal from residents. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2024.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 154: An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement; creating the military and veteran family help desk in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; and providing for an effective date.

This bill modifies Alaska's state procurement rules to ensure that companies receiving price preferences for doing business with the state actually perform the work or have a history of selling similar supplies. It also establishes a two-percent price preference for bids from entities that employ service members or veterans participating in specific transition training programs. Additionally, the legislation creates a new Military and Veteran Family Help Desk within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to serve as a central resource for information, services, and employment support for military families.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 151: An Act relating to police officer training; establishing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission; relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons; relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission within the Alaska Department of Public Safety to address unresolved cases involving indigenous individuals. The commission will consist of nine members representing law enforcement, tribal organizations, victim advocates, and the legislature, who will meet to examine case trends and make recommendations for improving collaboration and reducing such incidents. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Public Safety to hire at least two investigators specifically tasked with handling these cases and serving as liaisons between agencies, communities, and federally recognized tribes. All documents and information gathered by the commission during its reviews will remain confidential and protected from public disclosure or use in legal proceedings.

Donny Olson (D) · 30 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 147: An Act relating to workers' compensation reemployment rights and benefits; establishing a workers' compensation stay-at-work program; relating to the workers' compensation benefits guaranty fund; relating to the presumption of compensability for workers' compensation claims related to post-traumatic stress disorder; relating to the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date.

SB 147 updates Alaska's workers' compensation system by strengthening reemployment rights and establishing a new stay-at-work program to help injured employees return to their jobs. The bill requires the state administrator to enforce quality standards for rehabilitation specialists and mandates detailed annual reports on program costs, timelines, and participant outcomes. It also introduces specific rules for determining eligibility for reemployment benefits based on how long an employee is unable to work due to injury. Additionally, the legislation addresses PTSD claim presumptions, modifies the workers' compensation benefits guaranty fund, and makes changes to the Alaska senior benefits payment program.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 205: An Act authorizing the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to acquire or purchase a building that it occupies for an amount that does not exceed $8,000,000; and providing for an effective date.

This bill authorizes the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to buy the building it currently occupies at 700 Bragaw Street in Anchorage for up to $8 million. The legislation provides the specific legal approval needed for this purchase and sets the law into effect immediately. It directly impacts the state agency by allowing it to own its office space rather than lease it.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 155: An Act establishing the Alaska Military Affairs Commission; relating to the duties and powers of the Alaska Military Affairs Commission; relating to the Joint Armed Services Committee; relating to judge advocates; relating to military facility zones; relating to the appointment of an assistant adjutant general; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes the Alaska Military Affairs Commission and updates the composition of the Joint Armed Services Committee to include representatives from military organizations and local mayors. It creates a new role for an assistant adjutant general within the Alaska National Guard, requiring the appointee to have at least five years of service in the state's Army or Air National Guard. Additionally, the legislation sets specific eligibility requirements for judge advocates, mandating that they be commissioned officers in good standing with a state militia or federal armed forces. These changes aim to broaden community representation in military advisory bodies and standardize leadership qualifications within the state's military structure.

Will Stapp (R) · 26 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 95: An Act relating to special request specialty organization registration plates; relating to special registration plates commemorating peace officers killed in the line of duty; relating to special registration plates for vehicles owned by women veterans; relating to special request registration plates for United States Space Force personnel; relating to the transfer of vehicles; relating to commercial driver's licenses and commercial instruction permits; and providing for an effective date.

This bill allows the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles to create custom registration plates for specific local organizations, such as tax-exempt nonprofits, state departments, and municipalities. To qualify, the sponsoring group must pay for the design and printing costs, and the plates cannot duplicate existing designs or contain offensive content. The legislation also establishes a $100 application fee for the first issuance and replacement of these plates, while permitting the sponsoring organization to charge an additional fee to vehicle owners. Finally, the bill includes provisions for notifying sponsors before cancelling a plate design and outlines the rules for purchasing these specialty plates.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 34: An Act reestablishing the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska; relating to the membership and duties of the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska; relating to the authority of the Department of Natural Resources regarding the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska; and providing for an effective date.

This bill reestablishes the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Management Areas in Alaska and sets its expiration date to June 30, 2031. It outlines how the governor will appoint commission members, specifying that their initial terms will be staggered between one, two, three, and four years. The legislation also clarifies the Department of Natural Resources' authority regarding the commission and establishes a transition plan for current members to ensure a smooth start on July 1, 2023.