Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106
04/06/2021 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB47 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
April 6, 2021
8:30 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Mike Cronk
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 47
"An Act renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and
Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; and
relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages."
- MOVED HB 47 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 47
SHORT TITLE: COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) TRB, STA
04/06/21 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 47.
SANDRA MOLLER, Director
Division of Community of Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
47.
LANCE TWITCHELL
Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages
University of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified and answered questions during the
hearing on HB 47.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:30:35 AM
CHAIR TIFFANY ZULKOSKY called the House Special Committee on
Tribal Affairs meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Representatives
Cronk, Ortiz, Tarr (via teleconference), and Zulkosky were
present at the call to order. Representative Fields arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
HB 47-COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
8:31:23 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 47, "An Act renaming the Alaska Native
Language Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for
Alaska Native Languages; and relating to the Council for Alaska
Native Languages."
8:31:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 47. She stated that the council was first
developed as the Alaska Native Language Preservation and
Advisory Council; HB 47 would shorten its name and expand its
membership. The council provided recommendations to both the
governor and the Alaska State Legislature on programs, policies
and projects, and networked in support of the council's mission
of advocating for the survival and revitalization of Alaska
Native languages through collaboration and sharing, she
imparted. The council was created by the second session of the
Twenty-Seventh Alaska State Legislature and consisted of
governor-appointed voting members who were language experts
representing diverse regions of the state, she shared. There
were also two non-voting members, she added: one member of the
Senate, appointed by the Senate president; and one member of the
House, appointed by the speaker of the House. Representative
Story shared she herself served as the non-voting member of the
House, which was how the information which became HB 47 had been
brought to her.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY shared the two seemingly small changes
brought about by HB 47 had significant meaning for the council.
The name change would simplify the name from the Alaska Native
Language Preservation and Advisory Council to the Council for
Native Languages, which would reflect the goal of sustaining and
reinvigorating Alaska Native language, "a concept that [went]
beyond preservation." The second change requested the addition
of two new members, changing the number of voting members from
five to seven. Alaska has about 20 distinct indigenous
languages, she shared, and to be able to be more inclusive, two
more members would add additional perspective.
8:35:35 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:35 a.m. to 8:36 a.m.
8:36:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked for an explanation of the fiscal
note.
8:36:18 AM
SANDRA MOLLER, Director, Division of Community of Regional
Affairs, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development, explained the reason for the fiscal notes was to
allow the two additional members two trips per year.
8:38:02 AM
LANCE TWITCHELL, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages,
University of Alaska, testified in support of HB 47. He said
sufficient work had not been done in terms of the progress of
Alaska Native languages. He shared that when the council was
formed in 2012, members felt seen and heard, but subsequently
budget cuts had been made, reports had gone unread, and actions
seemed less courageous. In the case of some languages, fewer
than 10 speakers remained, he shared, referring to them as a
"death spiral." He urged passage of HB 47 to preserve and care
for not just languages, but entire systems of communication and
ways of life.
8:43:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ asked what could be done fundamentally to
advance the cause of preservation of Native languages.
MR. TWITCHELL suggested that working with the Department of
Education and Early Development to create an Alaska Native
Language Schools consortium might be a step in the right
direction, as it would create a clear path to legitimize space
for teachers of Native languages.
8:47:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how the legislature should be using
state-funded media to support language revitalization.
MR. TWITCHELL replied that public broadcasting could be used to
greater effect with utilization of Native language content for
radio stations and program development. When the Juneau
community radio station KTOO brought the Sesame Street character
Elmo to Juneau, he shared, and Elmo was taught how to say
"Gunalch?esh," it really went a long way with folks.
8:50:41 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked if there was an opportunity to ensure there
could be movement of the necessary request and opt for virtual
meetings and thus avoid the fiscal impact if that would be
favorable.
MR. TWITCHELL said he thought so, but he couldn't speak for the
council.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY asked at what point the department could reduce
the fiscal note if the council could meet virtually.
MS. MOLLER replied she wasn't sure exactly but was sure it could
be done.
8:54:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ expressed a desire that HB 47 be moved from
committee.
8:55:09 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:55 a.m. to 8:58 a.m.
8:58:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ moved to report HB 47 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 47 was reported out of the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
8:59:23 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
8:59 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB47 Sponsor Statement 3.31.2021.pdf |
HTRB 4/6/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |
| HB 47 Sectional Analysis version A.pdf |
HTRB 4/6/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |
| HB 47 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HTRB 4/6/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |
| HB 47 Testimony - Received as of 4.1.2021.pdf |
HTRB 4/6/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |
| HB 47 Additional Documents 04.02.2021.pdf |
HTRB 4/6/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |