Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
04/30/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis | |
| HB142 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 142 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
April 30, 2019
8:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Dave Talerico
Representative Sarah Vance
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair
Representative John Lincoln
Representative Chuck Kopp
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Andi Story
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): THE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN
CRISIS
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 142
"An Act relating to Alaska Native organizations; relating to the
village public safety officer program; and relating to the
Alaska temporary assistance program."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 142
SHORT TITLE: NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS VPSO & TANF PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KREISS-TOMKINS
04/22/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/22/19 (H) TRB, JUD
04/30/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
MICHELLE DEMMERT, Law and Policy Consultant
Alaska Native Women's Resource Center; Chief Justice
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a PowerPoint presentation
entitled, "Legislative Update" dated 4/30/19.
AREN SPARCK, Government Affairs Officer
Seattle Indian Health Board
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided testimony during the presentation
on the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls crisis.
RICHARD PETERSON, President
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided testimony during the presentation
on the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls crisis.
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as the sponsor, introduced HB 142.
JOHN SCANLON, Staff
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Kreiss-Tomkins,
sponsor of HB 142, provided testimony and answered questions
during the hearing of the bill.
ANDREW MERRILL, Captain, Commander
"C" Detachment
VPSO Program
Division of Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing of HB
142.
RICHARD PETERSON, President
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered a question and provided invited
testimony during the hearing of HB 142.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:06:30 AM
CHAIR TIFFANY ZULKOSKY called the House Special Committee on
Tribal Affairs meeting to order at 8:06 a.m. Representatives
Talerico, Ortiz, Vance, and Zulkosky were present at the call to
order. Also present were Representatives Fields and Story.
^PRESENTATION(S): The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Crisis
PRESENTATION(S): The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Crisis
8:07:30 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced the first order of business would be a
PowerPoint presentation on missing and murdered indigenous women
and girls provided by the Alaska Native Women's Resource Center,
followed by additional testimony by the Urban Indian Health
Institute of the Seattle Indian Health Board and the Central
Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
8:08:00 AM
MICHELLE DEMMERT, Law and Policy Consultant, Alaska Native
Women's Resource Center and Chief Justice, Central Council of
the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, provided a
PowerPoint presentation entitled, "Legislative Update." Ms.
Demmert said she was speaking on behalf of the Alaska Native
Women's Resource Center (AKNWRC) on the crisis of missing and
murdered indigenous women (MMIW) and related pending federal
legislation. She directed attention to slide 3 and said MMIW is
a far too common occurrence that has recently received public
attention; however, MMIW occurrences have happened since first
contact with outsiders coming onto indigenous Alaska lands.
Many women and girls have suffered abuse and death due to the
government's failure of its legal trust and moral responsibility
to assist indigenous nations in safeguarding their women and
children. Many of the challenges in protecting Alaska Native
women and children are a lack of safe shelters, law enforcement
and medical services, or any type of help to deal with the
aftermath of victimization. Ms. Demmert provided the following
explanations and solutions: no closure following a death;
deaths with visible injuries are classified as accidental,
suicidal, or undetermined, and she gave an example. She pointed
out indigenous families do not get closure regarding the cause
of death that is received commonly by other nationalities
because 40 percent of indigenous communities do not have law
enforcement, and first responders are concerned with medical
issues - not about gathering information for a future criminal
proceeding. She opined colonization and resource development
resulted in laws and policies that endanger Alaska Native women
and children. In fact, the attitude of people coming into
communities that do not have police and justice systems sends a
message that there is a lack of care for indigenous people,
along with a longstanding belief that Native people are less
valuable than land and resources.
8:12:11 AM
MS. DEMMERT stated Alaska has the highest number of missing
persons than any state in the U.S. As of January 2019, of the
347 missing Alaska Native and American Indian people in the
federal database [National Missing and Unidentified Persons,
U.S. Department of Justice (NamUs)] system, 74 individuals were
from Alaska, the highest rate in the country. Further, the
Violence Policy Center reports Alaska has the highest homicide
rate of women by men and is the most violent state, with
Anchorage being the most violent city in the U.S; the Urban
Indian Health Institute reported that Alaska is among the top
ten states with the highest number of missing and murdered
Native Americans and Alaska Natives at 52 active cases - ten
times the national average. Ms. Demmert said the aforementioned
statistics are unacceptable and they indicate Alaska is a
violent state; according to the [National Violent Death
Reporting System (NVDRS), Centers for Disease Control, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services], between 2003 and 2008
Alaska Natives and American Indians comprised 29.1 percent of
the homicide victims in Alaska. Also, between 2003 and 2008,
Alaska Native and American Indian women represented 38 percent
of overall deaths. In addition, 86.1 percent of murdered Alaska
Native and American Indian women were not victims of domestic
violence or intimate partners. In response to this crisis,
AKNWRC is creating a community engagement plan to address the
services, public statements, legal issues and resources, and the
governmental role needed when a person is missing or dies an
unnatural death. The plan will follow models from other
communities because residents cannot wait for the state or
federal government to act. However, the state can achieve
solutions through legislation; for example, Washington State is
assigning two dedicated Tribal aides within the Washington State
Patrol to address issues and develop a best practices protocol
when a woman is reported missing. In 2003, Montana established
fatality reviews which compare cases with non-Native deaths and
make recommendations to lawmakers. Montana also collects and
shares data with its seven Indian reservations in order to
include the Native community. North Dakota has enacted
legislation that will require more law enforcement training
related to missing and slain Native Americans; there is similar
legislation pending in South Dakota. In Congress, there is
support for Savanna's Act, which includes provisions for
improving response to cases of MMIW in Tribal communities, and
she suggested Alaska should do so.
8:18:23 AM
MS. DEMMERT, in response to Chair Zulkosky, offered to provide
written copies of her testimony to the committee. She continued
to slide 4, noting AKNWRC was funded in 2017 through the
appropriations for an Alaska Native Tribal Resource Center on
Domestic Violence, and is the first Native resource center
funded due to the population of Native Americans and issues of
violence against Native Americans and Alaska Native women in
Alaska. The center provides the following: technical
assistance and training, including needs assessments; public
awareness, resource development; policy development and systems
advocacy, engagement; research and knowledge development (slide
5). Ms. Demmert then turned attention to an overview of related
pending federal legislation, beginning with the Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA), which was enacted in 1994 to address
nationwide issues; the Act has been reauthorized in 2000, 2005,
and 2013, with additional provisions to enhance safety for
Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, stalking, and trafficking (slides 6 and 7). In 2005,
Title IX: Safety for Indian Women, was an amendment to address
the need for legislation to require annual government to
government consultations with American Indian and Alaska Native
Tribes concerning the administration of related programs (slide
8).
MS. DEMMERT related, in 2013, an amendment to VAWA restored the
inherent Tribal authority of Indian Tribes to prosecute non-
Native domestic violence perpetrators of certain crimes,
partially overturning previous federal legislation, and she
provided background information on the legislation (slide 9).
The 2013 amendment was limited in scope in that it only applied
to domestic violence crimes and violations of protection orders
by a defendant with close ties to the community (slide 10). She
explained the effect of VAWA 2013 only applied to one Tribe in
Alaska, thus [H.R.] 1585, the Reauthorization of VAWA 2019,
would expand Tribal court jurisdiction to other crimes, create a
pilot project for five Alaska Tribes to exercise Tribal court
jurisdiction, expand the Tribal Access Program, through the
Department of Justice, to Tribes without law enforcement, and
would expand other Tribal protection orders (slides 11 and 12).
8:24:29 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked whether the five Alaska Tribes provided for
in the pilot program have been identified.
MS. DEMMERT explained H.R. 1585 has passed in the House of
Representatives but the [U.S.] Senate version has been delayed;
if the pilot program is included in the Senate version, Tribes
would apply to be part of the pilot program. She continued to
slide 13, noting another provision within H.R. 1585 is a new
section to recognize findings by the [Tribal Law and Order Act
of 2010], including the finding that Alaska Native women suffer
the highest rates of domestic and sexual violence in the
country.
MS. DEMMERT continued to slide 14 and returned to the [H.R.
1585] pilot program provision, noting the definition of Indian
country for the five Tribes would be expanded to include Alaska
Native townsites, allotments, former reservation land acquired
in fee by Alaska Native corporations, and all lands within any
Alaska Native village with a population that is at least 75
percent Alaska Native. She cautioned at this time she was
unsure whether the pilot program provision would be included in
the Senate bill.
8:28:30 AM
[Due to recording difficulties, a portion of the audio was
lost.]
MS. DEMMERT referred to marker bills, which are not standalone
bills but are intended to be included within a larger bill
(slide 16). She said the Native Youth and Tribal Officer
Protection Act was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
and reaffirms Tribal criminal jurisdiction over some crimes
committed by non-Indians, including child abuse, and crimes
committed against certain public safety and justice officials
(slide 17). In addition, the Studying the Missing and Murdered
Indian Crisis Act [S. 336], introduced by Senator Tester from
Montana, would direct the comptroller general to report on the
response of law enforcement agencies related to the MMWI issue
(slide 18). The Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence
Act [S. 288], also cosponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski,
reaffirms Tribal criminal jurisdiction over some crimes
committed by non-Indians including sexual assault, stalking, and
trafficking, and is intended to address the gap in law
enforcement and investigation of crimes such as rape and assault
(slide 19). Another related U.S. Senate bill is the SURVIVE
Act, which would direct 5 percent of the total annual outlays
from the Crime Victims Fund be provided to Indian Tribes; Indian
Tribes were added to the fund last year, and the SURVIVE Act
would make the funding "more permanent" (slides 20 and 21). She
returned to Savanna's Act [S. 227], which seeks to improve the
response to MMIW by improving Tribal access to data, requiring
data collection on missing and murdered Native people, and
directing the [Offices of the U.S. Attorneys] to develop law
enforcement and justice protocols to address missing persons.
She pointed out Alaska does not have a strong connection to the
U.S. Attorneys' office and thus may "be missing out on some of
the, the safeguards there," and she discussed two ways to
strengthen the bill (slides 22 and 23).
8:33:18 AM
[Due to recording difficulties, a portion of the audio was
lost.]
8:34:49 AM
AREN SPARCK, Government Affairs Officer, Seattle Indian Health
Board, gave a brief personal history and informed the committee
the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) is the research
division within the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) and is
one of 12 Tribal epidemiology centers in the U.S. Both
organizations work in 25 states, have partnerships with over 130
Tribes, and offer technical assistance and policy analysis of
federal legislation; further, UIHI and SIHB have a policy
platform working with community, Tribal, and government
partners. He directed attention to a report entitled, "Missing
and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls," co-authored by
[Abigail Echo-Hawk, Chief Research Officer, SIHB, and Director,
UIHI], that was provided in the committee packet. Mr. Sparck
said the report was based on a 2017 list of missing and murdered
indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) compiled by Annita Lucchesi,
PhD; the report is part two of a [three-part series entitled,
"Our Bodies, Our Stories"], and part three of the series - to be
released in November [2019] - will deal specifically with
Alaska. Mr. Sparck advised the report studied data from 71
cities in 29 states, and sought to provide a comprehensive
snapshot of MMIWG crisis in urban Native communities, and
explain why collecting data related to this issue is difficult.
Also reported were law enforcement agencies' tracking and
response to cases; collection of the data brought to light poor
recordkeeping and consistent racial misclassification of
American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, as well as
flaws in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request process.
Mr. Sparck pointed out Alaska was very responsive to requests
for information, although data reporting related to Tribal lands
"still needs work across the country."
8:37:51 AM
MR. SPARCK continued, noting the report also showcases a severe
lack of quality data, and accessibility to data, of violence
against Native women and girls. Ultimately, the report provides
advocacy for policy and system changes to end violence
experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
The report identified 507 cases nationwide, of which 127 were of
missing indigenous women, 282 were cases of murdered indigenous
women, and 98 cases were of unknown status; of those [507], 153
cases were not found in law enforcement records. The Anchorage
Police Department was "the most complicit police department"
contacted among all of the states, and Anchorage was third of
cities with the highest number of MMIWG cases at 33. Alaska was
the fourth state with the highest number of cases at 53;
however, he cautioned due to the lack of nationwide uniform data
reporting and collection standards, the report could not make
uniform comparisons or analysis. Also reported was that 20
percent of the perpetrators were found not guilty or
accountable; 85 percent of the perpetrators were men, and 50
percent of men were non-Native.
[Due to recording difficulties, a portion of the audio was
lost.]
8:40:09 AM
MR. SPARCK stated there are different approaches to improve the
situation, and he recognized Alaska is one of the states that
has offered innovative approaches to address the MMIWG crisis.
He directed attention to a document provided in the committee
packet subtitled, "Overarching Policy Recommendations" and
explained the first recommendation theme, "Engage Communities
Most Impacted" means working with the Tribal communities;
however, he pointed out Alaska is a "Public Law 280 state,"
which means the jurisdiction of Tribes resides at the state
level but happens in partnership [with Tribal governments]. Mr.
Sparck, speaking from personal experience, opined the Village
Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program is "a little suspect" and
gave an example of a young woman found murdered in Alaska whose
body lay for three days waiting for law enforcement to respond.
He stressed the extreme importance of the second recommendation
theme, "Invest in Indigenous Approaches," which means investing
in Tribal epidemiology centers to ensure the creation of
community-led demographic data collection and reporting
standards; in fact, epidemiology centers seek to work with
legislators in this regard.
[Due to recording difficulties, a portion of the audio was
lost.]
MR. SPARCK gave another example of the Washington State Patrol
that found only a fraction of reported MMIWG "in the system."
He remarked:
So, that's what we're saying when we want those
indigenous data reporting and collection methodologies
created, we want to make sure that it's done from the
perspective of Native people, so we can understand
this a little bit better. So, that data discrepancy
from one coming from an indigenous method, to that of
the state, just shows you how stark that contrast is
and to make sure that investing in that indigenous
methodology is a priority going forward in
legislation.
8:42:48 AM
MR. SPARCK said investing in indigenous data sovereignty
practices means respecting Tribal sovereignty, and he advised
Tribes have the right "to know" and have recourse; another
specific recommendation from the second recommendation theme is
investment in indigenous approaches to ending gender-based
violence, which should be developed by a partnership with Tribal
systems and municipal, county, and state governments, and while
maintaining respect for other jurisdictions. He cautioned
getting to the bottom of the crisis requires strong coordination
between all jurisdictions. A third specific recommendation of
the second recommendation theme is to set aside money for
services. The third recommendation theme was "Mandate
Improvements in Data Collection and Reporting" and he related
legislation must be specific to each affected jurisdiction
regarding the collection and reporting of data. He opined
Alaska could be a beacon for the rest of the country to address
this issue by creating a system to collect the right information
in all jurisdictions through legislation that respects Tribal
sovereignty. Another specific recommendation for the third
recommendation theme is to fund the infrastructure needed to
collect and report data or to access other systems. He closed
his summary by restating his personal interest in the issue and
offered additional help from SIHB and UIHI.
8:45:53 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked for the release date for the [third part]
of UIHI's report.
MR. SPARCK said November [2019].
8:46:48 AM
RICHARD PETERSON, President, Central Council of the Tlingit and
Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida), acknowledged
the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs can bring
important issues such as MMIW to the forefront of policy
discussions. He expressed his belief this hearing is the first
time MMIW has been discussed in the [State Capitol Building].
Since statehood, violence against Alaska Native women and girls
has not been a priority and rural safety services have never
been adequately funded. Furthermore, during the time Alaska was
a territory, atrocities were committed through institutions
sanctioned and funded by the federal government to separate
Alaska Natives from their culture and traditional homeland.
Historical cultural trauma continues to affect communities and
touches every Alaska Native family, although generational trauma
caused by boarding school experiences is not recognized by the
state and federal governments. Generational trauma is a part of
history that needs to be recorded, especially related to MMIW
and public safety in rural Alaska. Mr. Peterson related Tlingit
& Haida has acted to bring MMIW issues to the forefront, as
evidenced by marches during its annual Tribal Assembly in
response to an unsolved murder of a mother on Prince of Wales
Island. In rural Alaska, because of insufficient resources,
rural communities are told to call the Alaska State Troopers
"when you have a body" and he provided examples of murders of
young women that remain unprosecuted. Mr. Peterson explained
the traditional process that should begin at the time of death
is delayed by poor response from law enforcement; however,
hunters are prosecuted within hours for practicing traditional
hunting methods, leaving some residents to conclude that "moose
are more valued to the State of Alaska than Tlingits." Mr.
Peterson said the imbalance of public safety priorities is
unjust and is a pattern of oppression in Alaska. He described
Tlingit & Haida's actions to elevate the issue of MMIW by
establishing a taskforce and hosting public speakers; in
addition to these actions, the keynote speaker for the Tlingit &
Haida Tribal Assembly was Abigail Echo-Hawk, co-author of the
aforementioned [MMIWG] report.
8:52:16 AM
MR. PETERSON pointed out the UIHI MMIWG report found media and
government often blame victims of heinous crimes by affiliating
the missing Native women with drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and
criminal histories, but not acknowledging them by name, which
contributes to the issue being "swept under the rug for so
long." He questioned how the safety of Alaska Native women and
girls can be a political decision and not the basic
responsibility of a sovereign government to keep its citizens
safe. Mr. Peterson urged state government to value the lives of
Alaska Native women on the same level as other citizens; Tribes
are ready to share resources and work together to better protect
Alaska Native communities because Alaska Native women and girls
are human, have names, and deserve protection.
8:53:57 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
HB 142-NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS VPSO & TANF PROGRAMS
8:54:53 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 142, "An Act relating to Alaska Native
organizations; relating to the village public safety officer
program; and relating to the Alaska temporary assistance
program."
8:55:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS, Alaska State
Legislature, paraphrased from the following sponsor statement
[original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 142 addresses ambiguity in law by
clarifying which Alaska Native organizations are
eligible to administer Village Public Safety Officer
(VPSO) programs and Alaska Native family assistance
programs. The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida
Indian Tribes of America (Tlingit & Haida) has
operated Southeast Alaska's VPSO and Alaska Native
family assistance programs for nearly 20 years.
However, Tlingit & Haida has a different legal
identity than the regional nonprofit corporations
around Alaska (e.g., AVCP, Kawerak, TCC) that
administer VPSO and/or family assistance programs,
owing to Tlingit & Haida's status as a federally
recognized tribe. Tlingit & Haida is not a regional
nonprofit corporation, despite regularly being
mistakenly referred to as one. House Bill 142 amends
current statute to resolve this ambiguity and make
fully explicit and unambiguous that Tlingit & Haida
can administer VPSO and/or family assistance programs
in partnership with the State of Alaska.
8:56:47 AM
JOHN SCANLON, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins,
Alaska State Legislature, stated currently, nonprofit regional
corporations and "rural areas" are eligible to administer the
VPSO program; HB 142 would add "Alaska Native organizations" to
those eligible. There are 13 entities that are currently
eligible to administer Alaska Native family assistance programs
and adding Alaska Native organizations to those eligible would
add Metlakatla and Tlingit & Haida. The technical change made
by HB 142 does not add any other entities to the original 13
regional nonprofit corporations listed in statute, but would
ensure all are authorized to administer Alaska Native family
assistance programs. He explained the ambiguity occurs because
Tlingit & Haida is a federally-recognized Tribe and not a
regional nonprofit corporation, and thus is not technically
authorized to administer the program[s]. Mr. Scanlon said the
following organizations and agencies have favorably reviewed the
bill: Tlingit & Haida; the Department of Public Safety (DPS);
the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS); the
Department of Law (DOL).
CHAIR ZULKOSKY said although the sponsor has characterized the
bill as a narrow, technical change, the size and scope of the
work done by Tlingit & Haida in Southeast leads one to think of
Tlingit & Haida as similar to one of the regional nonprofits;
however, as a legal entity, Tlingit & Haida is a federally-
recognized Tribe. She asked for confirmation that the bill
would only apply to Tlingit & Haida and the Metlakatla Indian
Community.
MR. SCANLON clarified, as it relates to the VPSO program, HB 142
would add Tlingit & Haida and Metlakatla as entities eligible to
administer the program, in partnership with DPS. As it relates
to the Alaska Native family assistance program[s], HB 142
ensures that the 13 entities currently listed in statute are
legally authorized to administer the program[s].
9:00:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE pointed out the Department of Commerce,
Community & Economic Development recognizes Tlingit & Haida as a
nonprofit corporation, which would fulfil the requirements to
administer the VPSO program.
MR. SCANLON deferred the question.
9:02:11 AM
ANDREW MERRILL, Captain, Commander, "C" Detachment, VPSO
Program, Division of Alaska State Troopers, DPS, informed the
committee he manages the VPSO program and is captain of "C"
Detachment.
[Due to recording difficulties, a portion of the audio was
lost.]
CAPTAIN MERRILL recalled last year a VPSO and Tlingit & Haida
were sued over actions by the VPSO; during the lawsuit, Tlingit
& Haida exercised sovereign immunity and was removed from the
civil suit. In the judge's ruling of the lawsuit, the state was
repeatedly noticed that technically, Tlingit & Haida was not a
Native nonprofit as defined in regulations or statute. Captain
Merrill explained at that time DPS and Tlingit & Haida
recognized the need to correct the issue, and one step in the
process to become compliant was for Tlingit & Haida to establish
nonprofit status with DCCED.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE questioned whether Tlingit & Haida is now
in compliance with the VPSO requirements.
CAPTAIN MERRILL said yes. Tlingit & Haida is established as a
nonprofit and is legally within compliance of the regulation and
statute.
9:05:26 AM
RICHARD PETERSON, President, Central Council of the Tlingit &
Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida), in further
response to Representative Vance, said Tlingit & Haida complied
by registering as a nonprofit, albeit at some administrative
expense. He opined it is in the interest of the state and
Tlingit & Haida to complete the "statutory fix" within HB 142,
which is housekeeping and noncontroversial. He then continued
to his invited testimony and stated Tlingit & Haida has
administered the VPSO and [Alaska Native family assistance
programs/Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF)] program
successfully for over 20 years through grant agreements with the
state. The programs are vital for all of Southeast: TANF is
operated for the entire region from Ketchikan to Yakutat; VPSO
is operated through a grant agreement with DPS and interest from
local communities. Mr. Peterson said Tlingit & Haida has done a
good job for over 20 years overcoming obstacles to the programs;
in fact, as a regional Tribe, Tlingit & Haida is "uniquely
situated" to provide these services for Southeast, and although
it is not a consortium of Tribes, Tlingit & Haida is directly
connected to the affected communities. He restated Tlingit &
Haida is not defined as a Tribal nonprofit and seeks a simple
and efficient statutory correction to achieve compliance. Mr.
Peterson acknowledged there are ongoing budgetary issues
concerning TANF and VPSO programs; however, HB 142 has been
discussed with DOL and DHSS and no issue, concern, or
controversy has been raised.
9:09:52 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY questioned whether Tlingit & Haida would face
problems managing the VPSO program were the bill [not to pass].
MR. PETERSON said Tlingit & Haida would have additional costs
associated with changes to its management operations. He
restated Tlingit & Haida's existing management operation has
been a successful model for over 20 years.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY surmised [without passage of HB 142] Tlingit &
Haida would anticipate an increase in administrative costs and
thereby decreased funding for the VPSO program.
MR. PETERSON agreed there would be additional costs for the VPSO
and TANF programs.
9:11:12 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened public testimony on HB 142. After
ascertaining no one wished to testify, public testimony was
closed, and HB 142 was held over.
9:12:03 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
9:12 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB142 Fiscal Note DPS-VPSO 4.28.19.pdf |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |
HB 142 |
| HB0142A.PDF |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |
HB 142 |
| HB 142 Sponsor Statement 4.29.19.pdf |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |
HB 142 |
| Missing-and-Murdered-Indigenous-Women-and-Girls-Report.pdf |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |
|
| MMIWG Policy Guidance_Final.pdf |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |
|
| VAWA.pdf |
HTRB 4/30/2019 8:00:00 AM |