Under the authority of art. III, secs. 1 and 24 of the Alaska Constitution, and AS 39.20.345, I, Frank H. Murkowski, order as follows:

1. An employee of the State of Alaska who is a member of a reserve or auxiliary component of the armed forces of the United States, including the organized militia of Alaska consisting of the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force, and who is ordered to active duty due to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is authorized to continue to receive state group life and health benefits, including benefits for eligible dependents, for the duration of active duty, unless the employee elects to terminate state employment.
   
   
2. Each employee described in paragraph 1 of this Order is authorized to continue to receive the group life and health benefits provided under AS 39.30.090 - 39.30.095 or under a collective bargaining agreement, as provided under the terms of the plan in which the employee is enrolled at the time the employee commences active duty. The employee shall be given the option of either continuing to participate or declining to participate in the group life and health plan for the duration of the employee’s active duty. If the employee elects to continue to participate, the employee is responsible for paying the normal employee contribution under the employee’s plan. If the employee elects to continue participation, the employee is subject to the same rights, terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and changes with respect to the employee’s group life and health plan as are employees in the plan who are not in active duty status.
   
   
3. As required by chap. 65, SLA 2003, a collective bargaining agreement in effect as of June 12, 2003, including any extensions and successor agreements, must be modified to accept the provisions of chap. 65, SLA 2003, for this Order to apply to employees covered by the agreement.
   
   
4. The Department of Administration shall adopt emergency regulations as necessary to implement this Order.

This Order takes effect immediately.

Dated at Juneau, Alaska this 5th day of February, 2004.

 
 

/s/Frank H. Murkowski
Governor