Opinion ID: 2640775
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Agency discretion

Text: Delegation of power to an administrative agency is more likely to be found constitutional if the grant of power minimizes agency discretion. [61] For example, in workers' compensation cases, the amount of benefits is set by statute so that the Board has minimal discretion in awarding benefits as compared to a jury awarding tort damages. [62] Courts also sometimes look at whether the area of delegation is one that historically has been subject to administrative regulation. [63] Workers' compensation is an area of law that has been subject to administrative adjudication for a considerable period of time. [64] The Alaska Workers' Compensation Board was created in 1959, the same year that Alaska became a state. [65] AKPIRG does not question the Board's power to perform a quasi-judicial function. The Appeals Commission has no more discretion to award damages than the Board since its jurisdiction is limited to review of Board decisions. This lack of discretion weighs in favor of the Appeals Commission being a quasi-judicial agency rather than a court.