Governor Signs Reform Bill Closing Second Injury Fund, Creating Contractor Status Test

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signed into law a reform bill that will close the Second Injury Fund to claims for injuries occurring after Aug. 31. The governor on Friday signed HB 79, introduced by Rep. Andrew Josephson, D-Anchorage, which closes the second injury fund, creates a new test for determining when a person is a contractor or employee, and changes the distribution of premium taxes to direct more money to the Division of Workers’ Compensation administrative fund. HB 79 closes the Second Injury Fund to claims for dates of injury after August and requires all requests f...