How HB 192 changes current law

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends existing laws related to unemployment compensation, including penalty structures for late payments, adjustments for inflation, and provisions for worker availability during call center overloads.

• AS 23.20.340(d)

  PROMPTLY

  Removes the requirement for prompt payment, implying more flexibility in timing.

• AS 23.20.340(f)

  PROMPTLY

  Removes the 'promptly' requirement for payment of benefits after an appeal decision.

• AS 23.20.340

  (h) The department shall develop a contingency plan for periods when the call center call volume may exceed the capacity of the call center. An insured worker may not be disqualified from benefits, or have benefits reduced, for failure to timely provide information through a call center if, during the week the information was due, the volume of calls received by the call center exceeded the capacity of the call center.

  Establishes protections for workers against disqualification due to call center capacity issues.

• AS 23.20.350(d)

  [$24] → $35

  Increases the weekly allowance for dependents from $24 to $35.

• AS 23.20.350(d)

  [$72] → $105

  Increases the maximum total allowance for dependents from $72 to $105 per week.

• AS 23.20.350

  (h) On July 1 of each year, the department shall increase the maximum base period wages in (d) of this section by a percentage equal to the average percentage of increase over the first three of the preceding four calendar years in all items of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for urban Alaska prepared by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and calculate new weekly benefit amounts accordingly.

  Mandates annual adjustments to maximum base period wages based on inflation.