AS 23.10.530. Application to Other Laws.

(a) The provisions of AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550 do not affect any other provision of law relating to sex discrimination, pregnancy, or parenthood.

(b) The provisions of AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550 are subject to collective bargaining. However, except as provided in (c) of this section, a collective bargaining contract that does not contain benefit provisions at least as beneficial to the employee as those provided by AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550 shall be considered to contain the benefit provisions of those statutes.

(c) The commissioner of education and early development may approve a collective bargaining agreement entered into between a school district or a regional educational attendance area and a bargaining organization representing certificated employees that does not meet the leave requirements of AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550, if the district or attendance area establishes to the satisfaction of the commissioner that a variance from the requirements of AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550 is necessary to avoid a hardship on the school district based on the lack of qualified, available substitute teachers to replace teachers on leave under AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.550 or the lack of available housing for replacement teachers who do not live in the community.

AS 23.10.540. Investigation and Conciliation of Complaints.

(a) A person aggrieved by a denial of a right or privilege granted by AS 23.10.500 - 23.10.540 may file a complaint with the department.

(b) The department shall informally, promptly, and impartially investigate the matters set out in a filed complaint. If the investigator determines that the allegations are supported by substantial evidence, the investigator shall immediately try to eliminate the denial of rights or privileges by conference, conciliation, and persuasion.