SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ALASKA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD
This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES issued on March 22, 2022, concerning the above-proposed revisions, contained in Department of Law File No. 2022200139. The department has released this SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE to advise the public that the department will take oral and written testimony at an oral hearing on the proposed revisions. The hearing will be held as follows:
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board proposes to adopt regulation changes in 8 AAC 45 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with rehabilitation specialists, including the following:
- 8 AAC 45.410 is proposed to be amended to create a probationary rotation period for new rehabilitation specialists.
- 8 AAC 45.420(b) is proposed to be amended to clarify the reasons a rehabilitation specialist may be removed.
- 8 AAC 45.420 is proposed to be amended to create a probationary rotation period for new rehabilitation specialists.
- 8 AAC 45.435 is proposed to be added to establish procedures for reviewing rehabilitation specialists.
- 8 AAC 45.440 is proposed to be repealed and readopted to clarify the process for removing a rehabilitation specialist.
- 8 AAC 45.500(b) is proposed to be amended to add the administrator as a recipient of billing statements.
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 the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2797 and by electronic mail at workerscomp@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on October 2, 2023.
The Workers' Compensation Board will consider adoption of the final regulations at its general meeting on October 12-13, 2023. Oral or written comments also may be submitted on October 12-13, 2023, in-person at 3301 Eagle St., Room 208, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, or virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87057211027. Oral public comment will be heard from 10:15 to 11:15 and might be extended to accommodate those present before 10:15 who did not have an opportunity to comment.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512 or by electronic mail at workerscomp@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System Division of Workers’ Compensation’s website. If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Alexis Hildebrand at (907) 465-6059 or alexis.hildebrand@alaska.gov not later than September 28, 2023, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided. A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Alexis Hildebrand at (907) 465-6059 or alexis.hildebrand@alaska.gov.After the public comment period ends, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board 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 23.30.005; AS 23.30.041
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 23.30.041
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Division of Workers’ Compensation 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 Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512 or by electronic mail 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.