Alaska Bills

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 259: An Act relating to the compensation of state employees; relating to the salary of the chief administrative law judge; and providing for an effective date.

This bill updates the salary schedule for state employees in Alaska's supervisory bargaining unit to automatically increase their pay whenever the state raises wages for this group. It requires the Commissioner of Administration to issue a regulation specifying the exact percentage increase and new salary amounts, which must be published for public record but does not need to follow standard administrative review procedures. The changes apply retroactively to July 1, 2023, and the bill becomes effective immediately upon passage.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 268: An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; amending appropriations; making supplemental appropriations and reappropriations; and providing for an effective date.

HB 268 allocates state funds for the fiscal year 2025 to cover operating expenses and loan programs for various government agencies, including the Department of Administration. The bill authorizes specific budget amounts for services such as personnel, retirement benefits, procurement, and information technology, while also allowing for the transfer of up to $500,000 between different retirement trust funds. Additionally, it includes directives for processing new retirement applications within six weeks and prioritizing funding for rural public radio stations with limited broadcast coverage. This legislation establishes the financial resources needed to maintain state operations and manage specific programs for the upcoming fiscal year.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 270: An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date.

HB 270 allocates state funds for the fiscal year 2025 to support Alaska's integrated comprehensive mental health program. The bill directs money to various agencies, including the Department of Administration, Department of Corrections, Department of Education, and Department of Family and Community Services. These funds cover specific areas such as legal advocacy, physical and behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, and youth facility operations. The legislation also provides financing for education support services and family preservation programs within the mental health framework.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 50: An Act relating to carbon storage on state land; relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; relating to deposits into the permanent fund; establishing the carbon storage closure trust fund and carbon dioxide storage facility administrative fund; relating to geothermal resources; relating to carbon storage exploration licenses; relating to carbon storage leases; relating to carbon storage operator permits; relating to enhanced oil or gas recovery; relating to long-term monitoring and maintenance of storage facilities; relating to carbon oxide sequestration tax credits; relating to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and regulation of the service of natural gas storage; relating to the regulation of liquefied natural gas import facilities; relating to the oil and gas production tax; relating to the duties of the Department of Natural Resources; relating to carbon dioxide pipelines; relating to reserve-based state loans for oil and gas development projects in the Cook Inlet sedimentary basin; relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; requiring the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to report to the legislature on oil and gas projects with potential to increase oil and gas production from the Cook Inlet sedimentary basin; relating to an audit of carbon storage leases conducted by the legislative audit division; and providing for an effective date.

HB 50, known as the Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Act, establishes a legal framework for storing carbon dioxide on state land in Alaska and expands the authority of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to oversee these operations. The bill creates two new funds to manage administrative costs and site closure liabilities, while also setting up a system for issuing exploration licenses, leases, and operator permits for carbon storage facilities. It further mandates long-term monitoring of storage sites, introduces tax credits for carbon sequestration activities, and requires the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to report on oil and gas projects in the Cook Inlet sedimentary basin. Additionally, the legislation adjusts how mineral lease revenues are deposited into the state's permanent fund and grants the commission jurisdiction over all land within the state for regulatory purposes.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 91: An Act relating to telehealth; relating to multidisciplinary care teams; and relating to the practice of medicine.

This bill allows physicians licensed in other states and members of their multidisciplinary care teams to provide telehealth services to patients in Alaska under specific conditions. It permits ongoing follow-up care for patients who have an established relationship with the out-of-state doctor and allows consultations for life-threatening conditions referred by a local or qualified out-of-state physician. The legislation also expands the legal definition of a "health care provider" to include these out-of-state professionals and their teams, while establishing grounds for disciplinary action against team members who commit fraud, misrepresentation, or other professional misconduct.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 74: An Act relating to an interstate physical therapy licensure compact; relating to the licensure of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes an interstate compact to allow physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants to practice across state lines more easily. It requires the state licensing board to implement this compact and outlines standard qualifications for licensure, including graduation from an accredited program, passing a national exam, and completing a criminal background check. By adopting these regulations, the legislation aims to streamline the process for healthcare professionals seeking to work in multiple states while maintaining consistent safety and competency standards.

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 26: An Act relating to the official languages of the State of Alaska; renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; relating to the transfer of the Council for Alaska Native Languages from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to the Department of Education and Early Development; and relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages.

This bill officially recognizes eleven Alaska Native languages alongside English as the state's official languages and moves the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council from the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development to the Department of Education and Early Development. The renamed Council for Alaska Native Languages will advise the governor and legislature on programs to preserve and revitalize these languages, with its members required to include professional language experts and representatives from diverse regions. While the council will meet at least twice a year to provide recommendations, the law clarifies that official public documents must still be prepared in English. Additionally, the legislation includes a transition provision to ensure that staff currently working for the council do not automatically transfer to the new department when the council's location changes.

Andi Story (D) · 26 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · House Oct 16, 2024

HB 202: An Act relating to the availability and administration of opioid overdose drugs in public schools; relating to correspondence study programs; and relating to allotments for correspondence study programs; and relating to an annual report relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants and opioid overdose drug distribution; and providing for an effective date.

This bill requires school districts in Alaska to have trained staff and at least two doses of opioid overdose medication available at their main buildings during all times students or staff are present, including before and after school hours and on weekends. It also mandates that one dose be available during any school-sponsored events held on school grounds, with the state Department of Health responsible for supplying the drugs and providing training videos for administration. To encourage participation, the legislation grants immunity from civil lawsuits to schools and individuals who fail to maintain these supplies due to good-faith efforts. Additionally, the bill updates rules for homeschool and correspondence study programs by requiring annual individual learning plans developed collaboratively with students, parents, and teachers. These plans must include state standards, ongoing assessments, and provisions for modifying the curriculum if a student struggles in core subjects.

DeLena Johnson (R) · 39 co-sponsors

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 22: An Act establishing Juneteenth Day as a legal holiday.

This bill establishes Juneteenth Day, observed on June 19th, as an official legal holiday in Alaska. By amending state statutes, it adds this date to the list of recognized days when businesses and government offices are closed, joining existing holidays like Independence Day and Memorial Day. The legislation also adjusts the numbering of other holidays in the state code to accommodate this new addition.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 67: An Act relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date.

This bill restricts the use of firefighting substances containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances within Alaska, with specific exceptions for the oil and gas industry unless state regulations mandate otherwise. It requires the state fire marshal to adopt rules that mandate the use of safer, alternative firefighting substances if those alternatives are deemed safe and effective by recognized federal testing programs. Additionally, the legislation ensures that the state will accept up to 25 gallons per year of these restricted substances for disposal from residents. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2024.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 154: An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement; creating the military and veteran family help desk in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; and providing for an effective date.

This bill modifies Alaska's state procurement rules to ensure that companies receiving price preferences for doing business with the state actually perform the work or have a history of selling similar supplies. It also establishes a two-percent price preference for bids from entities that employ service members or veterans participating in specific transition training programs. Additionally, the legislation creates a new Military and Veteran Family Help Desk within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to serve as a central resource for information, services, and employment support for military families.

signed · Alaska · Senate Oct 16, 2024

SB 151: An Act relating to police officer training; establishing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission; relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons; relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety; and providing for an effective date.

This bill establishes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission within the Alaska Department of Public Safety to address unresolved cases involving indigenous individuals. The commission will consist of nine members representing law enforcement, tribal organizations, victim advocates, and the legislature, who will meet to examine case trends and make recommendations for improving collaboration and reducing such incidents. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Public Safety to hire at least two investigators specifically tasked with handling these cases and serving as liaisons between agencies, communities, and federally recognized tribes. All documents and information gathered by the commission during its reviews will remain confidential and protected from public disclosure or use in legal proceedings.

Donny Olson (D) · 30 co-sponsors

Bill results