Laws change all the time, and we are often unaware when certain laws change until it’s too late. This past year has been a whirlwind, but that doesn’t mean 2021 won’t bring legal changes.
Here’s what you should know about new Alaska laws in 2021:
The Minimum Wage Increase
The minimum wage is $10.34 in the State of Alaska. As of January 1, the Alaska minimum wage has increased from $10.19 to $10.34. In 2014, Alaska voters passed a ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage yearly for inflation.
The law mandates that Alaska’s minimum wage must be at least $1 more than the federal minimum wage. Some exceptions to the Alaska Wage and Hour Act apply to:
Persons under 18 years of age who are employed on a part-time basis for fewer than 30 hours in any week
Persons employed in agriculture
Persons who deliver newspapers
Persons who serve on a voluntary basis to provide emergency medical services or ski patrol services, or work full-time with a fire department.
Some counties and cities can set their own wage laws, so be sure to check the standards in your city. It’s possible for the Anchorage, Alaska minimum wage, for instance, to change at a different rate than the rest of the state.
You’ll Need a REAL ID to Fly
As of October 1, you’ll need your driver’s license to be REAL ID compliant if you plan to use it to board an airplane. The initial deadline for the REAL ID was on October 1, 2020, but that date was pushed back a year due to COVID-19.
You may still use other forms of identification to board a plane, but if you plan to use your driver’s license, it must be REAL ID compliant.
Changes to Subsistence Management Regulations
Effective November 23, 2020, the final rule regarding established regulations for seasons, harvest limits, and methods and means with respect to taking wildlife for subsistence purposes has been updated for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
You can read all about the final rule on the Federal Register website.
We’re Here to Help
If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, we may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve. We have helped many other people just like you, and we may be able to help you, too. Don’t delay—contact our office right away with any questions you may have.
Call Farnsworth & Vance today at (907) 290-2576 to speak with an attorney about your potential case.
