This bill proposes the repeal of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission and outlines the transition of appeals from the Commission to the superior court. It amends various sections of the Alaska Statutes and the Alaska Rules of Appellate Procedure to reflect this change. Notably, it establishes that decisions from the former Commission will still hold legal precedent unless overturned by a court. The bill also includes provisions for the handling of medical and rehabilitation records, ensuring they remain confidential and not subject to public inspection, while allowing certain parties access under specified conditions.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, AS 23.30.126, which details the process for reviewing decisions made by the Workers' Compensation Board, including the conditions under which a stay of payments may be granted during judicial review. It repeals specific court rules and makes indirect amendments to existing appellate procedures to accommodate the new structure. The bill is set to take effect on June 1, 2026, contingent upon certain provisions receiving a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature.

Statutes affected:
SB0251A, AM SB 251, introduced 02/18/2026: 23.30.005, 23.30.107, 40.25.100, 40.25.295, 23.30.095, 23.30.110, 23.30.108, 23.30.130, 44.62.540, 44.62.560, 44.62.570, 23.30.155, 23.30.126, 23.30.008, 39.50.200, 23.30.007, 23.30.009, 23.30.125, 23.30.127, 23.30.128, 23.30.129, 23.30.395, 39.25.110, 44.64.020, 22.10.020