Gov's Reforms Scheduled for Hearing in Finance Committee

The Finance Committee of the Alaska House of Representatives will hold a hearing today on a reform bill proposed by the governor that would revise the definition of an independent contractor and eliminate the state’s Second Injury Fund. The House Rules Committee last year introduced HB 79 at the request of Gov. Bill Walker, an independent. The bill would close the Second Injury Fund to new claims on July 1. The fund would cease to exist after it paid all liabilities for already accepted claims. HB 79 would also create a new test to determine whether a person is a contractor or an ...