Labor & Employment

HB 156 requires employers in Alaska to include salary ranges in all job postings and prohibits them from stopping employees or applicants from discussing or asking about pay. It also bans employers from asking about previous salary or punishing workers for sharing pay information. The law protects employees from retaliation (like firing or demoting) if they discuss pay or file a complaint about violations. Employers who break these rules face fines of $100-$2,000 per violation, with potential reductions for self-audits. This directly affects all employers (including state agencies and universities), employees, and job applicants in Alaska.

SB 68 updates Alaska's employment laws to regulate flexible work hour plans and the employment of minors under 16. It requires written agreements and state department approval for flexible schedules, limiting them to 40 hours weekly and 10 hours daily, with overtime pay at 1.5x for exceeding these limits. For minors, the bill mandates written state authorization for most employers (except in family-owned businesses under direct family supervision), and sets daily limits of 10 hours combined school/work, plus weekly limits of 23 hours during school or 40 hours when school is out. The bill also reduces the age limit for minor employment from 17 to 16 and adjusts the law's language to reflect this change.

SB 159 increases the mandatory payroll deduction for employees in Alaska from 0.1% to 0.2% of wages subject to contributions under state law. This change directly affects employees through higher payroll deductions, with the additional funds directed to the State Training and Employment Program. The program supports job training, workforce development, and employment services. The bill applies to new employment contracts entered into after its effective date.

This Alaska legislative resolution (HJR 20) calls on the U.S. Congress to establish two specific hiring goals for Department of Defense (DoD) construction projects: requiring that at least 10% of workers on these projects be in apprenticeship programs, and that at least 10% of those apprentices be veterans. It directly addresses veterans transitioning to civilian careers by targeting employment opportunities in military construction, which involves $18 billion in annual funding. The resolution urges Congress to pass legislation mandating these requirements for contractors and subcontractors on all domestic DoD construction projects. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses Alaska's support for veterans' employment without creating new federal law.

HB 193 establishes a paid parental leave program in Alaska, allowing eligible workers to take paid time off for childbirth, adoption, or foster placement within 12 months. The program is funded by a 0.15% payroll contribution from employees (credited against their unemployment insurance payments), with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development administering claims and verifying eligibility using documents like birth certificates or adoption papers. Employees must earn at least $2,500 in wages across two calendar quarters to qualify. The bill also includes provisions for the fund to support unemployment benefits, but its primary focus is creating the new paid leave program.