Sen. Forrest Dunbar

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Alaska public schools to include a specific civics course and assessment as a condition for students to receive a secondary school diploma. The curriculum must be based on the U.S. citizenship naturalization exam and primary source documents, while also incorporating systems of government used by Alaska Natives. To pass the assessment, students must correctly answer at least 70 percent of the questions, though those with disabilities may request a waiver. Additionally, the bill establishes the Alaska Civics Education Commission and mandates annual reporting to the legislature on civics education implementation and student performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework in Alaska to protect the safety and privacy of crime victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officers enrolled in an address confidentiality program. It mandates that public records containing the home or business addresses and phone numbers of these individuals must be redacted before being made available for public inspection. Additionally, the legislation restricts the disclosure of this sensitive information during court proceedings unless a judge determines it is essential for the case and takes steps to minimize potential harm. The law also clarifies the definition of a correctional officer to include those working in state and qualifying municipal facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development to create guidelines for teaching mental health in public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. The state board must develop these guidelines in consultation with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health representatives, while also establishing a dedicated specialist position to coordinate the program and provide teacher training. Additionally, the legislation requires the board to submit a report to the legislature within two years detailing the developed guidelines and the process used to create them.

Maddy summarySB 206 updates Alaska's workers' compensation system by creating a new stay-at-work program and strengthening oversight of reemployment benefits. The bill requires the state department to establish rules for selecting rehabilitation specialists and allows certain procedural matters to be decided by a commissioner or hearing officer instead of a full panel. It mandates annual reports detailing the performance, costs, and outcomes of these programs, including tracking how long injured workers take to return to their planned jobs. Additionally, the legislation directs the state to promote awareness of these reemployment options among employers, injured workers, and medical professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Alaskan municipalities to create tax exemptions or payment deferrals for specific economic development properties, provided they follow strict rules about public notice and voter approval. It also authorizes local governments to impose a special tax on properties they officially designate as blighted, but only if the owner submits and completes an approved plan to redevelop or fix the site. The legislation includes safeguards such as prohibiting the tax on primary residences and requiring that any funds collected from blighted properties be set aside specifically for community redevelopment projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the laws governing the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to explicitly include the construction of workforce housing with five or more units as a primary purpose. It grants the authority the power to finance, lease, and manage these housing projects, allowing it to acquire interests in them through purchase, gift, or lease. The legislation also enables the authority to issue bonds and incur debt specifically to fund these housing developments, expanding its existing role in supporting industrial and export projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Alaska Work and Save Program, a retirement savings initiative managed by the Alaska Retirement Savings Board, and allows residents to automatically divert a portion of their Permanent Fund Dividend into the program or other designated funds. Under the new rules, employees at employers who do not offer qualified retirement plans would be automatically enrolled in the program, with their contribution rates increasing over time unless they opt out. The legislation also establishes a public database for eligible charitable organizations and funds, mandates that the Department of Revenue provide tax statements to contributors, and sets aside a seven percent coordination fee from contributions to cover administrative costs, excluding the Work and Save Program accounts and specific victim compensation funds from this fee.