Notice of Public Scoping Under Administrative Order 360 for possible Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation Regulation Changes.

Chapter 45. Compensation, Medical Benefits, and Proceedings Before the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board
Chapter 46. Self-Insurance, 8 AAC 46.010 to 8 AAC 46.900
Chapter 55. Fishermen’s Fund
Chapter 57. Appeals

Background. In response to Administrative Order 360, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation is soliciting written and oral comments from affected industries, community organizations, and the general public regarding regulations and materials incorporated by reference in 8 AAC 45 – 8 AAC 57.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation  is undertaking this solicitation process to ask the public for ideas, suggestions, and input before the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation  drafts or proposes any specific regulation amendments or repeals for public review.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation  is particularly interested in specific ideas for regulatory change that may:

• clarify existing regulatory obligations;
• reduce costs for the public, industry, or government;
• improve or streamline procedures, application requirements, and review processes, for example reducing the time required to apply for a license, permit, or benefit;
• reduce administrative burdens;
• streamline permitting procedures;
• improve communication procedures;
• provide greater transparency with respect to standards, decision-making, and rationales for application processing; or
• clarify interagency roles.

Written comments. Written comments must be received by at least one business day prior to each meeting. Written comments may be sent to workerscomp@alaska.gov or P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK  99811-5512.

Public meeting. Oral or written comments may also be submitted at a hearing:

• To participate by Zoom, please use the appropriate link above.

• To participate by phone, call 833-548-0276 and enter the Webinar ID in the appropriate link above.

The public comment periods may be extended to accommodate those present before the start time who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, chairperson may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.

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 alexis.hildebrand@alaska.gov or (907) 465-6059 not later than 10 days prior to each meeting, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

Please note that input provided in response to this solicitation will be subject to inspection, copying, and distribution as public records under AS 40.25.110 – 40.25.220.  Please do not include any confidential information in written or oral comments.

Questions. For questions or more information, contact our Agency Regulatory Liaison, Kimberly Kolvig at kimberly.kolvig@alaska.gov or (907) 465-5870.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation  is not currently proposing any specific regulation change and there are no draft regulations prepared for public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act at this time. If Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation  undertakes revisions to these regulations, there will be an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed regulation changes that are released for public review and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 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 Division’s notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, go to: https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/AKDOL/subscriber/new?topic_id=AKDOL_6.

Individuals can also sign up 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.