Glover v. State, Department of Transportation, Marine Highway System

OPINION

CARPENETI, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

A state-employed seaman injured on the job presents a declaratory challenge to AS 09.50.250(5), a recently enacted provision rescinding the state’s waiver of sovereign immunity from suits under the federal Jones Act and referring state employees exclusively to the state workers’ compensation system. The employee argues that the statute violates the Alaska Constitution’s waiver of sovereign immunity, is preempted by federal law, and violates his due process and equal protection rights. The superior court upheld the amended statute. We affirm because (1)…