Notice of Proposed Workers' Compensation Regulations

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON HEARING PROCEDURESIN THE REGULATIONS OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ALASKA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARDThe Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board proposes to adopt regulation changes in 8 AAC 45 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with hearing procedures, including the following:(1) 8 AAC 45.070 is proposed to be changed as follows: to clarify procedures for requesting a hearing on medical disputes.(2) 8 AAC 45.071 is proposed to be changed as follows: to add employee discharge order to procedural matters.You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Workforce

Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation, will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-2797 and by electronic mail at workerscomp@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2024.Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on May 16, 2024, at 3301 Eagle St., Room 208, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Oral comments may be submitted virtually via Zoom videoconference at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84445678961 or telephone by calling 833-548-0276, Webinar ID: 844 4567 8961. The hearing will be held from 10:15 to 11:15 and might be extended to accommodate those present before 10:15 who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation Chair of the Board may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided. You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512, or by electronic mail at workerscomp@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation, will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and Division of Workers’ Compensation website.If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Alexis Hildebrand at (907) 465-6059 or alexis.hildebrand@alaska.gov not later than May 2, 2024, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Alexis Hildebrand at (907) 465-6059 or alexis.hildebrand@alaska.gov.After the public comment period ends, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject without further notice or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.Statutory authority: AS 23.30.005; AS 23.30.110; AS 23.30.135Statutes being implemented, interpreted or made specific: AS 23.30.005; AS 23.30.110; AS 23.30.135;Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.The Division of Workers’ Compensation keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Workers’ Compensation at P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512 or by electronic mail at workerscomp@alaska.gov, giving your name and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notices for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx. Date: Catherine Muñoz, Commissioner