BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Alaska Labor Relations Agency proposes to change regulations on the filing of papers, eliminating notary requirement, repealing mandatory labor organization fees, and confidentiality of electronic interest cards.

Summary of proposed changes: The Alaska Labor Relations Agency proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 8 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the filing of papers and confidentiality of electronic interest cards, as well as eliminating notary requirement and repealing mandatory labor organization fees, including the following:

(1)        8 AAC 97.010 and 8 AAC 97.020 are proposed to be amended to eliminate the requirement that hard copies of documents be filed with the Agency.

(2)        8 AAC 97.025 and 8 AAC 97.030 are proposed to be amended to allow for electronic filing of interest cards in certification and decertification petitions.   

(3)        8 AAC 97.060 is proposed to be amended to clarify that interest cards are confidential from the employer.

(4)        8 AAC 97.220 is proposed to be amended to remove the notary requirement on unfair labor practice complaints.

(5)        8 AAC 97.305, 8 AAC 97.310, and 8 AAC 97.320 relating to the right of non-association are proposed to be repealed.

Written comments: 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 Alaska Labor Relations Agency at 3301 Eagle Street, Suite 206, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Alaska Labor Relations Agency will accept comments by facsimile at 907.269.4898 and by electronic mail at labor.relations@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.

Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 5:00 PM on September 18, 2026.

Questions: You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Alaska Labor Relations Agency by e-mail and physical address. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Alaska Labor Relations Agency will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and https://labor.alaska.gov/laborr/.

Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public.

Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Alaska Labor Relations Agency at labor.relations@alaska.gov and 907.269.4895 not later than August 16, 2026, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Alaska Labor Relations Agency at labor.relations@alaska.gov and 907.269.4895.

Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the Alaska Labor Relations Agency 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 23.05.380; AS 23.40.170; AS 42.40.820

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 23.40.090; AS 23.40.100;

AS 23.40.110; AS 23.40.120; AS 23.40.130; AS 23.40.225; AS 42.40.740; AS 42.40.750; AS 42.40.760; AS 42.40.770; AS 42.40.780; AS 42.40.880

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

How to receive further notices: The Alaska Labor Relations Agency 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 Labor Relations Agency notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Alaska Labor Relations Agency at labor.relations@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

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.

Date:   August 10, 2026

/s/Nicole Thibodeau,

Hearing Examiner/Administrator