03/20/2023 03:30 PM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB26 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
March 20, 2023
3:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative CJ McCormick, Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Jamie Allard
Representative Maxine Dibert
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Josiah Patkotak
Representative Jennie Armstrong
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 26
"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 CSHB 26(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION: Alaska Legal Services Corporation Community
Justice Workers Program
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 26
SHORT TITLE: COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY
01/19/23 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/19/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/23 (H) EDC, FIN
02/10/23 (H) TRB REPLACES EDC REFERRAL
02/10/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED
03/08/23 (H) TRB AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/08/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/08/23 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
03/13/23 (H) TRB AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/13/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/23 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
03/20/23 (H) TRB AT 3:30 PM DAVIS 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 26.
MIRANDA WORL, Staff
Representative Andi Story
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Story, prime
sponsor, offered explanation for amending HB 26 to include
formerly excluded languages to Alaska's official languages list.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:32:10 PM
CHAIR CJ MCCORMICK called the House Special Committee on Tribal
Affairs meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. Representatives
Carpenter, Dibert, Allard, Vance, and McCormick were present at
the call to order.
HB 26-COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
3:32:58 PM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 26, "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."
3:33:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 26. Having previously been before the
committee to present HB 26, she offered a refresher of the key
issues addressed by the proposed legislation. She said she is
the legislative liaison to the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council, which has expressed the
desire for a name change to the Council for Alaska Native
Languages because the council does not merely preserve
languages, it revitalizes them. In addition to that goal, HB 26
would add two voting members to expand council membership from
five to seven. Having additional members on council would serve
to further awareness of Alaska's Native languages throughout the
state.
3:35:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked who appoints the council members.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY answered they are appointed by the
governor. In response to a follow-up question, she offered her
understanding that there would be no breakdown as to which
languages were represented by which council members.
3:36:28 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:36 p.m.
3:36:32 PM
CHAIR MCCORMICK invited amendments to HB 26.
3:38:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 26,
labeled 33-LS0266\A.1, Bergerud, 3/16/23, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 1, following "Act":
Insert "relating to the official languages of the
State of Alaska;"
Page 1, following line 4:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. AS 44.12.310(a) is amended to read:
(a) The English, Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik,
Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Cup'ig, Alutiiq, Unanga/Cx,
Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper
Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, [TANANA,] Upper Tanana, Sahcheeg
xut'een xneege' (Middle Tanana), Benhti Kokhwt'ana
Kenaga' (Lower Tanana), Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Weta
(Ts'etsa'ut), Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian
languages are the official languages of the State of
Alaska."
Page 1, line 5:
Delete "Section 1"
Insert "Sec. 2"
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 2, line 9:
Delete "sec. 2"
Insert "sec. 3"
Page 2, line 11:
Delete "sec. 2"
Insert "sec. 3"
3:38:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT objected for the purpose of discussion.
3:38:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD spoke to Amendment 1. She explained it
would add formerly omitted Alaska languages to the list of
Alaska's official languages so that all Alaska Native languages
are recognized.
3:39:45 PM
_
REPRESENTATIVE STORY explained that X'unei Lance Twitchell had
brought this matter to her attention. She introduced her staff
to offer further details regarding the need for Amendment 1.
3:40:08 PM
MIRANDA WORL, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Story, prime sponsor of
HB 26, noting that further explanation from the council could be
found in the committee packet, explained that the original map
of 20 Alaska Native languages was created in 1974, and Wetal
[Ts'etsa'ut] was not included because it was no longer spoken;
however, it is important for it to be included. She said Cup'ig
is included in the Central Yup'ik language on the map, but it is
important that it be considered a language on its own. Finally,
the Tanana language currently listed encompasses two distinct
languages [Benhti Kokhwt'ana Kenaga'] Lower Tanana and
[Sahcheeg xut'een xneege'] Middle Tanana which should be
recognized individually.
3:41:51 PM
MS. WORL, in response to a question from Representative
Carpenter, cited AS 44.12.310 as listing Alaska's official
languages, and said English is among them.
3:43:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT removed her objection to the motion to
adopt Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment
1 was adopted.
3:43:28 PM
CHAIR MCCORMICK, after ascertaining there were no other
amendments to be offered, entertained a motion.
3:43:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT moved to report HB 26, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 26(TRB) was
reported out of the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
3:44:20 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:44 p.m. to 3:48 p.m.
3:49:07 PM
CHAIR MCCORMICK briefly stated other business.
3:49:18 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
3:49 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 26 Invited Testimony-Bernadette Alvanna-Stimpfle 03.08.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 Sectional Analysis 03.01.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 Sponsor Statement 03.01.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB0026A.PDF |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HTRB Indigenous Language List 03.08.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 ANLPAC 2022 Report to the Governor and Legislature.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 ANLPAC 2022 Summary of Recommendations Sheet 03.08.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 Fiscal Note 03.06.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 Invited Testimony 03.08.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/20/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |