Section 23.30.082 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Workers' compensation benefits guaranty fund(a) The workers' compensation benefits guaranty fund is established as a separate fund in the state treasury to carry out the purposes of this section. The fund is composed of civil penalty payments made by employers under AS 23.30.080, income earned on investment of the money in the fund, money deposited in the fund by the department, and appropriations to the fund, if any. However, money appropriated to the fund does not lapse. Amounts in the fund may be appropriated for claims against the fund, for expenses directly related to fund operations and claims, and for legal expenses.(b) Every three months, the Department of Revenue shall provide the division with a statement of the activities of, balances in, interest earned on, and interest returned to the fund.(c) Subject to the provisions of this section, an employee employed by an employer who fails to meet the requirements of AS 23.30.075 and who fails to pay compensation and benefits due to the employee under this chapter may file a claim for payment by the fund. In order to be eligible for payment, the claim form must be filed within the same time, and in the same manner, as a workers' compensation claim. The fund may assert the same defenses as an insured employer under this chapter.(d) If the fund pays benefits to an employee under this section, the fund shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the employee to the amount paid, and the employee shall assign all right, title, and interest in that portion of the employee's workers' compensation claim and any recovery under AS 23.30.015 to the fund. Money collected by the division on the claim or recovery shall be deposited in the fund.(e) If the money deposited in the fund is insufficient at a given time to satisfy a duly authorized claim against the fund, the fund shall, when sufficient money has been deposited in the fund and appropriated, satisfy unpaid claims in the order in which the claims were originally filed, without interest.(f) The division may contract under AS 36.30 (State Procurement Code) with a person for the person to adjust claims against the fund. The contract may cover one or more claims.(g) In this section, "fund" means the workers' compensation benefits guaranty fund.Amended by SLA 2024, ch. 12,sec. 12, eff. 1/1/2025.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.