AK SB251

Repeals the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission and transfers appellate jurisdiction over Alaska Workers' Compensation Board decisions directly to the superior court, effective June 1, 2026

Decisions of the former Commission retain legal precedent status unless reversed or modified by a court, and the Board must make these decisions available upon request

Establishes that Board findings of fact are conclusive if supported by substantial evidence, and decisions are not automatically stayed pending judicial review

Allows the Division of Workers' Compensation director to intervene in appeals or file appeals on behalf of unrepresented parties when unsettled legal questions are involved

Provides transitional rules allowing pending Commission cases to continue through December 1, 2026, after which incomplete cases transfer to superior court; Commissioner terms expire December 31, 2026