Alaska 32nd Legislature (2021-2022) Status: Enacted 1 D cosponsors

SB 131 — An Act relating to the presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain cancers in firefighters; relating to the payment of workers' compensation benefits in the case of permanent partial impairment; relating to the payment of workers' compensation death benefits; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 1/1/23

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 28, 2021. Enacted.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    7 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

112 added · 55 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 131 adds certain cancers to the list of diseases that are presumed compensable for firefighters, specifically addressing disabilities that arise from them. Previously, the bill only mentioned respiratory diseases and cardiovascular events; now, it specifically includes cancers like primary brain cancer, malignant melanoma, and leukemia. This change is significant because it recognizes the increased health risks that firefighters face and makes it easier for them to receive workers' compensation benefits if they develop these serious illnesses as a result of their job.

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Latest
32-LS0598\A SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
131 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY SENATORS HOLLAND, Gray-Jackson Introduced:
CCS SB 131 _______ AN ACT Relating to the presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain cancers in firefighters;
4/28/21 Referred:
relating to the payment of workers' compensation benefits in the case of permanent partial impairment;
Community & Regional Affairs, Labor & Commerce A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to the presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain diseases for firefighters." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
relating to the payment of workers' compensation death benefits;
* Section 1.
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 131 AN ACT Relating to the presumption of compensability for a disability resulting from certain cancers in firefighters;
relating to the payment of workers' compensation benefits in the case of permanent partial impairment;
relating to the payment of workers' compensation death benefits;
and providing for an effective date.
_______________ * Section 1.
(ii) malignant melanoma;
-1- Enrolled SB 131 (ii) malignant melanoma;
SB0131A -1- SB 131 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0598\A (iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
(iv) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
AS 23.30.121(f) is amended to read:
(f) In this section, "firefighter" means (A) a person employed by a state or municipal fire department or who is a member of a volunteer fire department registered with the state fire marshal;
or (B) a person registered for purposes of workers' Enrolled SB 131 -2- compensation with the state fire marshal as a member of a volunteer fire department [HAS THE MEANING GIVEN IN AS 09.65.295].
* Sec.
3.
AS 23.30.190(a) is amended to read:
(a) In case of impairment partial in character but permanent in quality, and not resulting in permanent total disability, the compensation is $273,000 [$177,000] multiplied by the employee's percentage of permanent impairment of the whole person.
The percentage of permanent impairment of the whole person is the percentage of impairment to the particular body part, system, or function converted to the percentage of impairment to the whole person as provided under (b) of this section.
The compensation is payable in a single lump sum, except as otherwise provided in AS 23.30.041, but the compensation may not be discounted for any present value considerations.
* Sec.
4.
AS 23.30.215(a) is amended to read:
(a) If the injury causes death, the compensation is known as a death benefit and is payable in the following amounts to or for the benefit of the following persons:
(1) reasonable and necessary funeral expenses not exceeding $12,000 [$10,000];
(2) if there is a widow or widower or a child or children of the deceased, the following percentages of the spendable weekly wages of the deceased:
(A) 80 percent for the widow or widower with no children;
(B) 50 percent for the widow or widower with one child and 40 percent for the child;
(C) 30 percent for the widow or widower with two or more children and 70 percent divided equally among the children;
(D) 100 percent for an only child when there is no widow or widower;
(E) 100 percent, divided equally, if there are two or more children and no widow or widower;
(3) if the widow or widower remarries, the widow or widower is entitled to be paid in one sum an amount equal to the compensation to which the widow or widower would otherwise be entitled in the two years commencing on the -3- Enrolled SB 131 date of remarriage as full and final settlement of all sums due the widow or widower;
(4) if there is no widow or widower or child or children, then for the support of father, mother, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters, if dependent on [UPON] the deceased at the time of injury, 42 percent of the spendable weekly wage of the deceased to such beneficiaries, share and share alike, not to exceed $150,000 [$20,000] in the aggregate;
(5) $8,000 [$5,000] to a surviving widow or widower, or equally divided among surviving children of the deceased if there is no widow or widower.
* Sec.
5.
AS 23.30.215 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
(j) A death benefit payable to a child under (a)(2)(D) or (E) of this section continues until the child reaches 23 years of age, unless extended under AS 23.30.395(8).
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* Sec.
6.
AS 23.30.121(b), as amended by this Act, applies to claims made on or after the effective date of this Act.
AS 23.30.121(b), as amended by sec.
SB 131 -2- SB0131A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
1 of this Act, and AS 23.20.121(f), as amended by sec.
2 of this Act, apply to claims made on or after the effective date of secs.
1 and 2 of this Act.
* Sec.
7.
This Act takes effect January 1, 2023.
Enrolled SB 131 -4-
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Action History

  1. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 1/1/23

  2. (S) Signed into law 7/30 CHAPTER 48 SLA 22

  3. (S) 4:00 P.M. 7/22/22 Transmitted to Governor

  4. (S) Minutes (SSB131)

  5. (S) Moved CCS SB 131 Out of Committee

  6. (S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON SB131 at 11:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  7. (H) Minutes (HSB131)

  8. (H) Moved CCS HB 131 Out of Committee

  9. (H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON SB131 at 11:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  10. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  11. (H) CC RPT ADOPTED Y29 N9 A2 CCS SB 131

  12. (H) CC REPORT TAKEN UP

  13. (H) CC REPORT: CCS SB 131 RECEIVED

  14. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  15. (S) CC RPT ADPTD Y19 N- A1 CCS SB 131

  16. (S) CC REPORT READ

  17. (S) HOLLAND (CHAIR), MYERS, KAWASAKI

  18. (S) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED

  19. (H) JOSEPHSON (CHAIR), WOOL, CARPENTER

  20. (H) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED

  21. (H) FAILED RECEDE (H) AM Y17 N22 E1

  22. (H) RECEDE TAKEN UP UC

  23. (H) RECEDE MESSAGE RECEIVED

  24. (S) FAILED CONCUR (H) AM Y6 N14

  25. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  26. (H) VERSION: HCS SB 131(FIN)

  27. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED

  28. (H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 19

  29. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  30. (H) PASSED Y29 N11

  31. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS SB 131(FIN)

  32. (H) LIMIT ALL INTROS TO 3 MIN, DEBATE TO 2 MIN EACH Y36 N4

  33. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DRUMMOND, TARR, JOSEPHSON

  34. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CALENDAR

  35. (H) FIN HCS ADOPTED Y27 N11 E1 A1

  36. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  37. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2022

  38. (H) FN5: (ADM)

  39. (H) FN4: ZERO(LWF)

  40. (H) NR: LEBON, CARPENTER, JOHNSON, WOOL, MERRICK

  41. (H) DP: ORTIZ, THOMPSON, JOSEPHSON, RASMUSSEN, FOSTER

  42. (H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 19

  43. (H) FIN RPT HCS(FIN) NEW TITLE 5DP 5NR

  44. (H) Moved HCS SB 131(FIN) Out of Committee

  45. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  46. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  47. (H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to 3:50 pm --

  48. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  49. (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C

  50. (H) FN3: INDETERMINATE(ADM)

  51. (H) FN2: ZERO(LWF)

  52. (H) DP: SCHRAGE, MCCARTY, SNYDER, NELSON, FIELDS, SPOHNHOLZ

  53. (H) L&C RPT HCS(L&C) 6DP

  54. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  55. (H) Moved HCS SB 131(l&C) Out of Committee

  56. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  57. (H) Moved HCS SB 131(L&C) Out of Committee

  58. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  59. (H) Heard & Held

  60. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  61. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  62. (H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  63. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 05:15 PM BARNES 124

  64. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): TUCK

  65. (H) L&C

  66. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  67. (S) VERSION: SB 131(TITLE AM)

  68. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  69. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  70. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 131(TITLE AM)

  71. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  72. (S) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION

  73. (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y17 N3

  74. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  75. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2021

  76. (S) FN1: ZERO(LWF)

  77. (S) DP: COSTELLO, MICCICHE, GRAY-JACKSON, STEVENS

  78. (S) L&C RPT 4DP

  79. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  80. (S) Moved SB 131 Out of Committee

  81. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  82. (S) FN1: ZERO(LWF)

  83. (S) NR: MYERS, WILSON

  84. (S) DP: HUGHES, GRAY-JACKSON

  85. (S) CRA RPT 2DP 2NR

  86. (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  87. (S) Moved SB 131 Out of Committee

  88. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  89. (S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  90. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  91. (S) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY-JACKSON

  92. (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  93. (S) Heard & Held

  94. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  95. (S) CRA, L&C

  96. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 63 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • HOLLAND

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (63)

63 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 63 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 131?
SB 131 is sponsored by HOLLAND and Elvi Gray-Jackson (D).
What is the current status of SB 131?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 28, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 131?
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