HB 68 Summary

• Establishes a Division of Workers' Safety and Compensation in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, initially merging the Division of Labor Standards and Safety with the Division of Workers' Compensation, with full separation effective July 1, 2022.

• Updates references throughout Alaska statutes to reflect the new division structure and naming conventions for labor safety and workers' compensation administrative functions.

• Lowers the minimum employment age from 17 to 16 years old for work requiring written commissioner authorization and adds provisions allowing 14-15 year-olds to work up to 40 hours per week during summer (June 1 through first Monday of September) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

• Adds grandparents to the list of family members under whose direct supervision children can work in family-owned businesses without special authorization.

• Most provisions take effect July 1, 2019, with selected sections (including division merger completion and statutory reorganization) effective July 1, 2022, and minor employment changes effective immediately.