JUNEAU — Alaska legislators would be able to decide how their records are handled if they die or become incapacitated while in office under a policy approved by a council of House and Senate lawmakers.
The issue garnered attention earlier this year after Rep. Max Gruenberg died in office. His widow, Kayla Epstein, fought for access to his papers.
On Monday evening, the Legislative Council voted to authorize the release of Gruenberg's records to her.
The policy change adopted Monday would allow legislators to fill out a form designating how their personal records should be handled if they die or become incapacitated in office.
If legislators do not fill out a form directing how their records should be handled, those records would not be releasable.