Sec. 09.17.020. Violation; Punitive damages.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in an action against an employer to recover damages for an unlawful employment practice prohibited by AS 18.80.220, the amount of punitive damages awarded by the court or jury may not exceed:

(1) $200,000 if the employer has less than 100 employees in this state;

(2) $300,000 if the employer has 100 or more but less than 200 employees in this state;

(3) $400,000 if the employer has 200 or more but less than 500 employees in this state; and

(4) $500,000 if the employer has 500 or more employees in this state.

(i) Subsection (h) of this section may not be construed to allow an award of punitive damages against the state or a person immune under another provision of law. In (h) of this section, "employees" means persons employed in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.

(j) If a person receives an award of punitive damages, the court shall require that 50 percent of the award be deposited into the general fund of the state. This subsection does not grant the state the right to file or join a civil action to recover punitive damages.