Judiciary Committee Schedules Hearings on Omnibus Comp Bill

A legislative policy committee will hear testimony on Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s proposal that would create a new test to determine independent contractor status, increase penalties for misclassification, eliminate the second injury fund and reduce the state’s cut of employer assessments. The Judiciary Committee for the state House of Representatives scheduled hearings for today and Wednesday on House Bill 79. Walker in January said the provisions in the bill could cut system costs by nearly $4 million a year starting in 2023 by expediting dispute resolution and benefit d...