(Anchorage) - Today Senate President Ben Stevens and House Speaker John Harris announced the formation of the Legislative Task Force on Workers' Compensation. The 13-member task force is made up of three legislators and 10 public members.

Sen. Ralph Seekins (R- Fairbanks) ushered SB 130 through the legislative process in the Alaska Senate and will co-chair the task force. "We want to remove some of the barriers Alaskans face in starting a new business in the state. Our goal will be to reduce rates in workers compensation insurance for Alaskan companies, both large and small. These goals can be accomplished while protecting the safety and security of the Alaskan worker."

The task force is a requirement under the Workers' Compensation Reform bill (SB 130) passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Frank Murkowski this summer. The task force is responsible for reviewing workers' compensation and insurance reform measures enacted in other parts of the country. It will also analyze additional reform proposals for Alaska's Workers' Compensation system.

"The Legislature and the Murkowski administration made tremendous progress when it passed the Workers' Compensation Reform bill last session. Now with this new task force we have the opportunity to make the system even better for injured workers, employers and medical professionals," said President Stevens.

The task force will hold its first organizational meeting in late September. It must issue a report to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President by December 1, 2005.

Legislative Task Force on Workers' Compensation:

1. Sen. Ralph Seekins, Co-Chair
2. Rep. Bob Lynn, Co-Chair
3. Sen. Gretchen Guess

Public Members:

1. John Duddy, M.D. - Alaska State Medical Association
2. Rod Betit - Alaska Hospital and Nursing Home Association
3. Michael Jensen - Employee Workers' Compensation Attorney
4. Trena Heikes - Employer Workers' Compensation Attorney
5. Kevin Dougherty - Organized Labor Representative
6. Ted Quinn - Unorganized Employee Representative
7. Constance Livsey - Insurance Industry Representative
8. Jamie Slack - Self Insured Employer Representative
9. Linda Lewis - Small Business Representative
10. Everett Billingslea - Large Business Representative

For more information contact Brian Hove at (907) 456-8161.

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