The bill amends Alaska's workers' compensation death benefits by updating the compensation structure for beneficiaries in the event of a worker's death. It maintains existing provisions for funeral expenses and benefits for widows, widowers, and children, while introducing new provisions for cases where there are no dependents. Specifically, it adds a new category of benefits for surviving parents or the estate of the deceased, providing a lump sum of $120,000 if there are no dependent family members at the time of injury.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the distribution of benefits among surviving family members, ensuring that if there are multiple surviving parents, the $120,000 is divided equally among them. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the support provided to families affected by workplace fatalities, particularly in cases where traditional dependents are not present.

Statutes affected:
HB0044A, AM HB 44, introduced 01/17/2025: 23.30.215