Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/21/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB304 | |
| HB254 | |
| HJR34 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 304 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 254-ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGE COUNCIL
8:30:16 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 254, "An Act establishing the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council and relating to the
preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native
languages."
8:30:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 254, Version 27-LS1145\M, Mischel,
2/20/12, as a work draft.
8:30:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG objected for the purpose of discussion.
He offered his understanding that the only changes made under
Version M would be to subsection (c), on page 2, lines 13-22.
8:31:14 AM
ANNETTE KREITZER, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, answered questions on behalf of Representative
Dick, joint prime sponsor of HB 254. She confirmed that
Representative Gruenberg was correct about where the changes
would be made. In response to Chair Lynn, she explained that in
the original bill version, subsection (c) proposed that the five
voting members appointed to [the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council] by the governor would be
"professional language experts"; however, after consultation
with Rosita Worl, Ph.D., President of the Sealaska Heritage
Institute, the decision was made that "professional language
experts" was too broad, because that term could include
linguists who have no experience in Alaska Native language. The
language that was decided upon was: "three of whom are
professional Alaska Native language revitalization experts and
two of whom are fluent in an Alaska Native language and engaged
in revitalization efforts." Ms. Kreitzer said Dr. Worl is an
example of the former and Representative Dick's wife is an
example of the latter.
8:32:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that there could be someone
who is well qualified, who is fluent in an Alaska Native
language but has not been previously engaged in revitalization
efforts, and who would be useful on the council. He said he
wonders whether a person must have been previously engaged in
revitalization efforts or whether it could be someone who is an
expert in the language and interested in revitalization efforts.
He opined that there are so few people who meet the proposed
criteria, and the governor should have as much leeway as
possible, particularly with some of the more remote languages
and dialects.
8:34:42 AM
MS. KREITZER responded that those who are interested in the
proposed legislation will put forward names of people they
believe to be qualified. She said she does not think the
language, as written [in Version M], would restrict the ability
of the governor to select someone who is fluent in an Alaska
Native language and is interested and has attempted to engage in
revitalization efforts.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked, "So, it could be ... either
previously or currently engaged?"
MS. KREITZER offered her understanding that that is correct.
8:35:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG removed his objection to the motion to
adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 254, Version
27-LS1145\M, Mischel, 2/20/12, as a work draft. [There being no
further objection, Version M was before the committee.]
8:36:14 AM
MS. KREITZER, in response to a question from Representative P.
Wilson, offered her understanding that the fiscal note for HB
254 is approximately $240,000.
8:36:51 AM
MS. KREITZER, in response to Representative Johansen, said the
normal, open board application process would be used, and the
only restriction on the governor's authority is that the five
voting members represent diverse regions of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN asked if the joint prime sponsor would
object to an amendment stating that the Sealaska Corporation
would submit names for the Southeast Alaska council seat, from
which the governor would then choose.
MS. KREITZER ventured that Representative Dick would respond
that he does not want to restrict the opportunity for someone
not affiliated with Sealaska to apply for a seat on the council.
8:40:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that there was an unoffered
amendment in the committee packet, the language of which was
subsumed into Version M, with one exception: the words "who are
engaged in revitalization efforts" are in the amendment, whereas
the words "and engaged in revitalization efforts" are in Version
M. He noted that that underscores Ms. Kreitzer's prior
acknowledgement that the person could be either previously or
currently engaged. He observed that language on page 3, line 1,
gives the governor a date by which he/she must make the
appointments, and he asked Ms. Kreitzer if it is the intent of
the joint primer sponsor that the legislative appointments also
would be made by that date.
8:42:08 AM
MS. KREITZER answered yes. She said there was a point in time
when governors were not making timely appointments; however, in
general, if the House and Senate pass legislation, those bodies
will make the appointments required by the piece of legislation.
8:43:10 AM
CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony.
8:43:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN moved to adopt Amendment 1, as follows:
Page 2, line 19:
Following "members."
Delete "In appointing the nonvoting members of
the council, the president of the senate and the
speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint
a member of the bush caucus, if a bush caucus exists.
In this subsection, "bush caucus" means a group of
legislators that represents rural areas of the
states."
8:44:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN stated that deleting that language would
allow the Senate President and the Speaker of the House to
determine who would be best to serve on the council, without
necessarily having to find someone who is a member of the bush
caucus. He said he, Representative P. Wilson, and
Representative Kerttula are members of the bush caucus; however,
Representative Kerttula, for example, does not necessarily
represent a rural area of the state. He opined that [requiring
the appointment of a member of the bush caucus] would disqualify
people who were born and raised [in rural Alaska] and speak a
Native Alaska language, but have moved to an urban area of the
state where they are not part of the bush caucus. He questioned
that someone who grew up in an urban area and subsequently moved
to a rural area would be more qualified.
8:46:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated his support of Amendment 1. He
echoed Representative Johansen's point that someone living in an
urban area may have come from rural Alaska and speak a Native
Alaska language fluently.
8:47:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she would like to hear what the
joint prime sponsor thinks of Amendment 1.
8:48:15 AM
MS. KREITZER said [the joint prime sponsor] opposes Amendment 1.
She said she understands Representative Johansen's concern;
however, with the language as is, there would be many members of
the bush caucus that would be qualified.
8:48:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated opposition to Amendment 1. He said
he cannot imagine a scenario in which there would be no
qualifying names for the Senate President and Speaker of the
House to put forward.
8:49:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON maintained her objection.
8:49:59 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Gruenberg and
Johansen voted in favor of Amendment 1. Representatives Seaton,
Keller, P. Wilson, and Lynn voted against it. Therefore, the
motion to adopt Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 2-4.
8:50:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 254, Version 27-
LS1145\M, Mischel, 2/20/12 out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 254(STA) moved out of the House State Affairs
Standing Committee.