Bill proposes to increase PPI, death benefits
Reprints
Legislation in Alaska proposes to modify workers compensation legislation to increase permanent partial impairment and death benefits.
H.B. 30, prefiled Friday by Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, would increase the PPI index from $177,000 to $255,506 and require annual updates to account for inflation. The bill would also adjust the death benefit for financial dependents from $20,000, which was set in 1968, to $100,000.
Mr. Josephson said in a statement the comp benefits for permanent partial impairment have not been adjusted for inflation in about 20 years, and death benefits have remained unchanged for more than 50 years.
The bill also proposes to amend the law to allow for the specified distribution of death benefits to nondependent parents, siblings or grandchildren in the absence of surviving spouses or children.
If passed, the legislation would take effect Jan. 1, 2020.
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