NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES RELATING TO PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 8 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with board and lodging and per diem on public construction projects, including the following:

(1)        8 AAC 30.050(a) is proposed to be amended to replace passive voice with active voice.

(2)        8 AAC 30.052 is proposed to be adopted as a new section. This new section establishes board and lodging requirements to ensure that the prevailing wage rate paid to laborers, mechanics, and field surveyors does not fall below the minimum rate.

(3)        8 AAC 30.054 is proposed to be adopted as a new section. This new section allows contractors to provide per diem instead of board and lodging.

(4)        8 AAC 30.056 is proposed to be adopted as a new section. This new section establishes that the commissioner may approve an alternative board and lodging or per diem arrangement.

(5)        8 AAC 30.900 is proposed to be amended to add new paragraphs with the definitions of “domiciled resident” and “employed on the project”.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Becky Weimer, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety, P.O. Box 111149, Juneau, AK 99811-1149. Additionally, you may submit comments by facsimile at (907) 465-6012 and by electronic mail at dol.lss.regulations@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 4:30pm on September 3, 2018.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Becky Weimer by e-mail at dol.lss.regulations@alaska.gov or by mail to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety, P.O. Box 111149, Juneau, AK 99811-1149. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and agency website.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Becky Weimer at dol.lss.regulations@alaska.gov or (907) 465-6002 not later than August 24, 2018 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System or by contacting Becky Weimer, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety, P.O. Box 111149, Juneau, AK 99811-1149 or dol.lss.regulations@alaska.gov or (907) 465-6002.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 23.05.060; AS 23.10.060; AS 23.10.085; AS 23.10.360; AS 36.05.030; AS 36.10.075

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 23.05.060; AS 36.05.010; AS 36.05.030; AS 36.10.075; AS 36.10.140; AS 36.95.010

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.