SB 221 prohibits the Alaska Retirement Management Board, the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board, and the commissioner of revenue from investing state funds or conducting business with DigitalBridge Group, Inc., or its affiliates. The bill amends Alaska Statutes to specifically block these entities from using DigitalBridge as an investment partner for the state's retirement funds, permanent fund, and a designated subaccount within the budget reserve fund. This restriction directly affects how these state investment bodies manage funds by removing DigitalBridge Group and its affiliates from approved investment options. The policy change is a clear prohibition that alters investment eligibility without altering broader investment strategies.
This bill updates the legal definition of a "victim counseling center" in Alaska to include private organizations, military-operated groups, and local or tribal agencies that primarily help victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. The law ensures these centers remain independent by explicitly excluding any organization affiliated with law enforcement, prosecutors, or the state government. By clarifying which entities qualify as independent counseling centers, the bill affects how communications made to these groups are handled regarding sexual assault and domestic violence cases. The changes apply to offenses and communications occurring on or after the bill's effective date.
This procedural resolution cancels Alaska's previous legislative requests to Congress for a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It formally rescinds all prior resolutions and enactments from the Alaska Legislature that had petitioned for such a convention. The bill also requests that this resolution be published in the Congressional Record as part of the official tally of state applications. (This is a procedural action affecting legislative records, not a policy change affecting citizens or laws.)
SB 266 requires Alaska health insurers to reimburse non-network healthcare providers (like doctors or hospitals not in an insurer's preferred network) for services at a rate of at least 75% of the median rate paid to in-network providers for the same service. This applies to all health care services and supplies provided by non-network providers. The reimbursement rate is calculated using the median of the insurer's own network rates in Alaska at the time the service is delivered. The bill sets a clear minimum standard to ensure non-network providers receive fair compensation without dictating specific dollar amounts.
SB 261 allows unhoused young adults in Alaska to obtain certified birth certificates and identification cards without standard photo ID requirements. It amends existing law to accept alternative documents (like expired IDs or school/medical records) as proof of identity for fee waivers when requesting birth certificates. This directly affects unhoused youth aged 18-25 who lack traditional identification, removing a key barrier to accessing essential services. The bill creates a clear process for state bureaus to issue these documents under specific verification conditions, focusing on practical access rather than new requirements.
HB 316 adjusts Alaska's legal limits for damage awards in personal injury and wrongful death cases to keep pace with inflation. It updates existing caps - currently $400,000 or life expectancy × $8,000 (whichever is greater) for standard cases, and $1,000,000 or life expectancy × $25,000 for severe cases - to automatically increase based on the Consumer Price Index for urban Alaska since 1997. This change applies to all damage awards issued on or after the bill's effective date. The bill directly affects plaintiffs seeking compensation for injuries or deaths, ensuring the financial limits remain relevant as living costs rise.
HB 234 amends Alaska Statute 18.08.200(7) to define "emergency medical dispatcher" as an initial first responder trained as a public safety telecommunicator with specific emergency medical knowledge. This bill directly affects emergency medical dispatchers across Alaska by establishing a clear statutory definition for their role. The key mechanism is a simple redefinition within the existing law, clarifying that dispatchers require both telecommunication training and specialized emergency medical knowledge. The bill does not create new requirements, funding, or procedures - only updates the official definition. It is currently in committee referral stage with no voting record yet.
HB 77 amends Alaska's theft statute to specifically classify the theft of mail or items within mail as "theft in the second degree." This directly affects individuals who steal physical mail (letters, packages, or items inside mail) from post offices, mailboxes, or after delivery to authorized locations. The bill defines "mail" broadly to include USPS-delivered items with postage, placed in authorized depositories or given to postal employees. Key provisions include criminalizing the theft of mail from post offices, mail receptacles, or after delivery, and adding "mail" as a new category under second-degree theft. The law applies to all mail covered by USPS delivery standards, not just commercial parcels.
This bill updates Alaska's public records laws to clarify what counts as a public record and how municipalities can charge for handling record requests. It expands the definition of public records to include audio and video recordings while excluding library materials and proprietary software. The bill also allows municipalities to charge requesters for the actual personnel costs of searching for and copying records, requiring payment before the search begins. These changes aim to modernize how public agencies manage digital and multimedia records while ensuring transparency in record access fees.
SB 232 allows Alaskans to collect certain fossils for personal use on state lands managed by the department (excluding state parks and game refuges). Daily limits are set at 25 pounds of fossils, 50 pounds of rock or soil containing fossils, or one large invertebrate fossil. Collectors must use only non-electric hand tools, cause minimal surface disturbance, and cannot sell the fossils or use them for research or public display. The bill does not change permit requirements for research or commercial fossil collection, which still require commissioner approval.
HB 270 requires healthcare providers (including pharmacists, doctors, and advanced practice nurses) to offer a prescription for an opioid overdose drug (like naloxone) when prescribing opioids under specific conditions. It applies directly to patients receiving opioid prescriptions that exceed a three-day supply, exceed 50 milligrams morphine equivalent daily, involve concurrent benzodiazepines, or involve a history of overdose or substance use disorder. The bill mandates this offer as a standard step in prescribing, aiming to increase access to life-saving overdose reversal medication. It does not require patients to accept the offer but ensures providers proactively discuss it during high-risk opioid prescriptions.
HB 338 establishes the Alaska Work and Save Program, allowing employees without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan to voluntarily contribute to retirement savings using their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) payments. The bill modifies the PFD application process to let eligible Alaskans direct $25-$100+ (in $50 increments) from their PFD toward the program, with automatic enrollment at a default contribution rate. The Department of Revenue will administer the program, handle contributions, and charge a 7% administrative fee (not deducted from PFD payments). This applies to all Alaska workers who earn compensation in the state and lack workplace retirement plans, using existing PFD funds rather than creating new government spending.
