Sec. 23.20.379. - Voluntary quit, discharge for misconduct, and refusal of work. - Alaska Statutes

(a) An insured worker is disqualified for waiting-week credit or benefits for the first week in which the insured worker is unemployed and for the next five weeks of unemployment following that week if the insured worker

(1) left the insured worker's last suitable work voluntarily without good cause; or

(2) was discharged for misconduct connected with the insured worker's last work.

(b) An insured worker is disqualified for waiting-week credit or benefits for a week and the next five weeks of unemployment following that week if, for that week, the insured worker fails without good cause

(1) to apply for available suitable work to which the insured worker was referred by the employment office; or

(2) to accept suitable work when offered to the insured worker.

(c) The department shall reduce the maximum potential benefits to which an insured worker disqualified under this section would have been entitled by three times the insured worker's weekly benefit amount, excluding the allowance for dependents, or by the amount of unpaid benefits to which the insured worker is entitled, whichever is less.

(d) The disqualification required in (a) and (b) of this section is terminated if the insured worker returns to employment and earns at least eight times the insured worker's weekly benefit amount.

(e) An insured worker is disqualified for waiting-week credit or benefits for the first week in which the insured worker is unemployed and for the next 51 weeks of unemployment following that week or until the individual has worked subsequent to the discharge from work and earned 20 times the insured worker's weekly benefit amount in employment covered under this chapter if the insured worker was discharged for commission of a felony or theft in connection with the work. In addition, the insured worker is not eligible for extended benefits under this chapter until the worker has requalified for benefits by meeting the earnings requirement in this subsection.

(f) In this section,

(1) "alcohol" has the meaning given in AS 23.10.699 ;

(2) "drugs" has the meaning given in AS 23.10.699 ;

(3) "misconduct" includes conduct in violation of an employer's policy concerning the use of drugs or alcohol, but only if the policy is consistent with AS 23.10.620 .