Sponsor Statement for SB 95

Alaska law allows certain public entities to enter into insurance cooperative arrangements concerning worker compensation, wherein they pool contributions to assume risks from losses or to purchase insurance coverage on a group basis. Currently, this option is available only to municipalities, public corporations, school districts and regional educational attendance areas. SB 95 would extend this option to “worker compensation self- insurance groups.”

A “worker compensation self-insurance group” is a not-for-profit association of five or more employers engaged in the same or similar business. The employers must be members of the same trade or professional association, which, in turn, must have been in existence for at least five years.

SB 95 contains numerous substantive and procedural requirements designed to ensure that worker compensation self-insurance groups remain fiscally sound and able to fulfill Alaska’s worker compensation requirements. Among other requirements, self-insurance groups must be certified by the state and the Director of the Division of Insurance may examine the books of such groups as often as is necessary. In addition, other express statutory provisions impose net worth, bonding and security standards.

Small businesses and employers often are assigned a higher risk by insurance carriers. This results in higher insurance costs. By pooling their numbers, these small employers would qualify for lower risk assessments and therefore lower premiums.

Thank you for your consideration and I ask for your support of SB 95.