NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON FISHERMEN’S FUND BENEFITS
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE FISHERMEN’S FUND ADVISORY AND APPEALS COUNCIL
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Fishermen’s Fund Advisory and Appeals Council proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 8 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with Fishermen’s Fund benefits, including the following:
- 8 AAC 55.010 (d)(1) is proposed to be changed as follows: Add physicians report form.
- 8 AAC 55.010(f) is proposed to be changed as follows: Add section for due date of insurance benefit statement.
- 8 AAC 55.010 is proposed to be changed as follows: Add section on medical travel expense reimbursement.
- 8 AAC 55.020 is proposed to be changed as follows: Add claim form used to start an action with the Fund.
- 8 AAC 55.0025 is proposed to be changed as follows: Add petition form for requesting Vessel Owner Reimbursement and deadline date.
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 Velma Thomas, P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811. Additionally, the Fishermen’s Fund will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-5345 and by electronic mail at FishFund@alaska.gov (please put “Public Comment - Proposed Regulation Changes” in the subject line). 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 April 14, 2023.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Velma Thomas by e-mail at velma.thomas@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Fishermen’s Fund 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 located here: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/home.htm.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Velma Thomas by e-mail at velma.thomas@alaska.gov and phone number (907) 465-6045 not later March 30, 2023, 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 and by contacting Velma Thomas by e-mail at velma.thomas@alaska.gov or by phone (907) 465-6045.
After the public comment period ends, the Fishermen’s Fund 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 23.35.040; AS 23.35.050; AS 23.35.070; AS 23.35.090; AS 23.35.100; AS 23.35.130; AS 23.35.140; AS 23.35.145; AS 23.35.150
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 23.35.050; AS 23.35.070; AS 23.35.100; AS 23.35.145; AS 23.35.150
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Workers’ Compensation Division keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Workers’ Compensation Division notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Workers’ Compensation Division at workerscomp@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.