1. (a) Before engaging in collective negotiations with a health benefit plan, an authorized third party may send a letter of intent to a health benefit plan notifying it that a negotiation group desires to engage in collective negotiations with the plan, and including a list of the proposed subjects to be negotiated. In the letter of intent, the authorized third party may inquire as to the intent of the health benefit plan to enter collective negotiations with the negotiation group. If the authorized third party has not received a response from the health benefit plan to the letter of intent within 60 days after mailing, the health benefit plan is presumed to have declined to enter negotiations.

2. (b) A letter of intent under this section may be sent before submitting to the attorney general a request under 9 AAC 23.020, if the letter of intent includes a clear statement that

   1. (1) approval to engage in the proposed negotiations has not been obtained from the attorney general; and

   2. (2) any collective negotiations

      1. (A) are contingent on the attorney general's approval; and
      2. (B) must be conducted in accordance with AS 23.50.

(Eff. 6/29/2003, Register 166)

Authority: AS 23.50.040