02/04/2020 03:45 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB121 | |
| Overview: Census Update | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 4, 2020
3:48 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Mike Shower
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 121
"An Act relating to Alaska Native organizations' family
assistance programs."
- HEARD & HELD
OVERVIEW: CENSUS UPDATE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 121
SHORT TITLE: NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS VPSO & TANF PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KIEHL
05/08/19 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/08/19 (S) STA, CRA
01/21/20 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
01/21/20 (S) CRA
02/04/20 (S) CRA AT 3:45 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 121.
CATHY SCHLINGHEYDE, Staff
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 121.
KENDRI CESAR, Outside Counsel
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 121.
STACIE KRALY, Chief Assistant Attorney General
Civil Division
Human Services Section
Alaska Department of Law
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 121.
JESSE PARR, TANF Program Manager
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 121 and the
TANF Program.
LAURIE WOLF, President and CEO
Alaska Census Working Group
The Foraker Group
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an update on the Alaska Census
Working Group, Alaska Counts, and the 2020 Census.
BERET WILBER, Communications Manager
Alaska Counts
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview on the communication
strategies to support the 2020 Census.
KORENA NOVY, Assistant Regional Census Manager
Los Angeles Census Center
U.S. Census Bureau
Los Angeles, California
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the Alaska 2020
Census Field Operations.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:48:03 PM
CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:48 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Micciche, Gray-Jackson, and
Chair Bishop. Senators Hoffman and Shower arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
SB 121-NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS VPSO & TANF PROGRAMS
3:49:35 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE
FOR SENATE BILL NO. 121, "An Act relating to Alaska Native
organizations' family assistance programs."
3:50:03 PM
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 121, introduced the legislation speaking to the
following sponsor statement:
Sponsor Substitute Senate Bill 121 fixes a
contradiction in Alaska law so the Central Council of
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (T&H) can keep
administering the tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families (TANF) program in Southeast.
AS 47.27.070(a) lists the organizations qualified to
run TANF, including T&H. But subsection (c) of the
same law says only "nonprofits" may run TANF. As a
tribal government, T&H is not a non-profit. This
contradiction endangers T&H's ability to keep running
the program.
T&H has successfully run TANF for almost two decades.
Taking the contradiction out of the law will let the
tribe continue its good work for Alaskans in need.
SENATOR KIEHL stated that the bill is a simple technical fix.
For many years, the State of Alaska has partnered with the
Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
(T&H) to provide a couple of programs, one of which is a TANF
Program.
SENATOR KIEHL said the partnership with T&H has been effective.
They do an excellent job helping families to self-sufficiency
and have been very successful in partnering with any number of
groups and agencies around the region and around the state. In
addition to an effective job, T&H does a fiscally efficient job
for the State of Alaska because their participation helps lower
the general fund requirement for the State of Alaska's
maintenance of effort to participate in the TANF program.
SENATOR KIEHL explained that when the partnership between the
State of Alaska and T&H began, a section was put into statute
that required the partners to be nonprofits. He said he was not
sure how that section got into statute, but a tribe is not a
state chartered nonprofit corporation. It is an entirely
different entity. The bill will take care of the inconsistency
by deleting the nonprofit requirement, thereby allowing the
partnership to continue as it has for a number of years.
He noted that SB 121 does not open the partnership for TANF to
any and all organizations that might someday be interested. T&H
is on a list in the statute via federal law. The bill is a
simple and specific fix.
CHAIR BISHOP asked Ms. Schlingheyde if she had anything to add.
3:52:38 PM
CATHY SCHLINGHEYDE, Staff, Senator Jesse Kiehl, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, replied Senator Kiehl's explanation
covered the intent of the bill.
CHAIR BISHOP summarized that the bill is a technical fix to
match federal law to state law.
SENATOR MICCICHE said the statute seems to say that the tribal
entity has to have a nonprofit entity, not necessarily that the
entire tribe has to be nonprofit. He asked if T&H previously had
a nonprofit entity that qualified it.
SENATOR KIEHL answered that there are people from T&H who can
answer that with 100 percent accuracy but he did not believe so.
Rather, this has been a disconnect between the statute and the
reality of the tribe's good work in this area for many years.
3:54:31 PM
KENDRI CESAR, Outside Counsel, Central Council Tlingit and Haida
Indian Tribes of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, explained that T&H had
discussions with the Alaska Department of Law and the Alaska
Department of Health and Social Services on options for a
solution when the statutory problem was first identified three
years ago. Forming a nonprofit or incorporating the tribe were
considered but it is not a workable option for the tribe and the
tribe had been successfully carrying out the TANF Program for 20
years without incorporation. Pursuing a statutory fix seemed to
be the most straightforward solution.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if Tlingit and Haida Central Council that
is named in the existing statute is the same entity discussed in
the bill as Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of
Alaska.
MS. CESAR answered yes.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if the "Notwithstanding" in the repeal
language covered those listed within [AS 47.27.070(a)].
MS. CESAR explained that subsection (a), like the federal
provision, specifies the appropriate entities that Congress
authorized to carry out the program for Alaska. However, the
requirement in subsection (c) requires Alaska Native
organizations to incorporate. She noted that the statutory
requirement lists incorporated entities, like Metlakatla.
3:56:46 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE questioned the necessity for the bill when it
looks like subsection (a) covered T&H.
CHAIR BISHOP stated that the bill will be set aside to allow the
committee more time to ponder.
SENATOR MICCICHE emphasized that his previous question should
not in any way mean that he is not supportive of repairing the
issue. He said it sometimes seems like the legislature is fixing
things that are common sense issues that are adequately dealt
with in existing code.
CHAIR BISHOP said he would like to ask the Alaska Department of
Law if they support the bill.
SENATOR MICCICHE reiterated that his question is if the change
is necessary as a technicality or if T&H is covered under
section (a) in the statute.
3:58:18 PM
STACIE KRALY, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division,
Human Services Section, Alaska Department of Law, Juneau,
Alaska, answered that the fix is necessary because of the way
the federal tribal TANF Program is set up.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if the fix is for everyone on the list.
MS. KRALY answered that the vast majority of those listed in the
statute are nonprofit organizations. The other difference is
Metlakatla is a tribal reservation in Alaska. She reiterated
that this fix would solve the problem.
CHAIR BISHOP asked if DOL supports the changes in the bill.
MS. KRALY answered that the Alaska Department of Law takes no
position on the proposed fix. The department recognizes that
there were three different ways to fix the problem. Ms. Cesar
discussed one fix that T&H declined, which was to become an
organized nonprofit or file as a nonprofit. She said a second
way to fix the problem would be to amend subparagraph 13 of the
statute. The third way is the fix proposed by the bill. She
summarized that any of the three fixes would work for the
department. She said it is not that the department does not
support the bill, the department supports the fix.
4:00:12 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked Senator Kiehl for bringing the bill
forward. She said she does not blame T&H for not wanting to deal
with becoming a nonprofit if they really do not have to. She
stated that she is glad the housekeeping issue is coming forward
and she is looking forward to moving forward.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked why [AS 47.27.070(c)] was originally in
statute.
MS. CESAR explained that T&H looked at the state legislative
history and unfortunately the analysis did not shed light on
that question. T&H is not sure why the section was inserted
other than perhaps as a regional tribe, which is unique in
Alaska, was confused with the other nonprofits. She said there
does seem to be some general misunderstanding about regional
tribes, which are unlike any other tribes. She added that Alaska
does tend to have a regional delivery of services like the TANF
Program.
CHAIR BISHOP asked if she had anything else to put on the record
before the bill is set aside.
MS. CESAR noted that Jesse Parr, TANF Manager for T&H, is in
attendance to discuss the savings to the state which Senator
Kiehl previously noted.
CHAIR BISHOP asked Mr. Parr to highlight some of the savings
from the TANF Program.
4:02:14 PM
JESSE PARR, TANF Program Manager, Central Council Tlingit and
Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, explained that
the tribe receives TANF funding directly from the federal
government. The tribal TANF Program is throughout the state and
is comprised of about 30 percent of the federal TANF funding.
The state realizes a 30 percent reduction in its maintenance of
effort requirement that results in a $15 million savings, from
$52 million to $36 million.
He summarized that the TANF Program is good for all parties
involved. He affirmed that T&H genuinely desires to continue
providing services to help people.
CHAIR BISHOP commented that the more the legislature can do to
create jobs, less people will have to use the TANF Program.
MR. PARR concurred.
CHAIR BISHOP noted that he worked very closely with the TANF
Program with the Tana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks.
4:03:21 PM
CHAIR BISHOP held SB 121 in committee.
4:03:28 PM
At ease.
^OVERVIEW: Census Update
OVERVIEW: Census Update
4:05:30 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced that the next order of business would be
a United States Census 2020 update by Foraker Group, the Census
Working Group, Alaska Counts, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
4:06:26 PM
LAURIE WOLF, President and CEO, The Foraker Group, Anchorage
Alaska, explained that The Foraker Group stands with the Alaska
Census Working Group, which has launched Alaska Counts, the
statewide campaign for the 2020 Census.
4:08:10 PM
MS. WOLF stated that about four years ago, as part of an initial
focus on the 2020 Census, The Foraker Group created the Alaska
Census Working Group, a statewide nonpartisan group of
stakeholders committed to ensuring an accurate count of Alaska
in the 2020 Census. The Alaska Census Working Group consists of
Alaskan businesses, nonprofits, governments, and tribal
organizations that share the same goal to help ensure an
accurate count of Alaskans. She identified the following Alaska
Census Working Group participants:
• Agnew Beck
• Alaska Airlines
• Alaska Municipal League
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
• Alaska Public Interest Research Group
• ANCSA Regional Association
• Cook Inlet Housing Authority
• First Alaskans Institute
• Koniag, Inc.
• Municipality of Anchorage
• Rasmuson Foundation
• Sealaska
• State of Alaska
• The Foraker Group
MS. WOLF highlighted the working group's key partner since the
beginning, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, an organization that
has provided significant in-kind contributions of staff and
resources. It has been an equal partner to The Foraker Group's
efforts.
She added that The Foraker Group acknowledges the Alaska Public
Interest Research Group for their incredible efforts over the
last year in leading the core team's translation efforts for the
2020 Census.
MS. WOLF said it is unfortunate but the Alaska Census Working
Group had little information about past census efforts and
inadequate funding from the U.S. Census Bureau. The working
group knew that it had to do things differently for Alaska to
have a better result in 2020.
MS. WOLF said the working group has created a grand exception to
the rule of how states organize to promote the census. The
working group has created a model that other states and national
organizations have said is a hallmark of success in its very
creation, structure, multi-sector participation, and operation.
The working group hopes that its accolades turn out to be true
in the census results as well.
4:08:35 PM
SENATOR HOFFMAN joined the committee meeting.
4:09:42 PM
SENATOR SHOWER joined the committee meeting.
4:10:07 PM
MS. WOLF explained that the Alaska Census Working Group focused
on the importance of the 2020 Census by advocating for
appropriate funding and sufficient resources at both the federal
and state levels. The working group established working
relationships with the U.S. Census Bureau staff at the national,
regional, and state levels that continues today.
She said the working group shifted to a ground game in June 2019
by engaging Alaskans about the importance of the count. The
working group is grateful to the U.S. Census Bureau staff in
Alaska for being a good partner, even when resources have been
very limited. Both the working group and the U.S. Census Bureau
have focused on creating complementary resources to spread as
far as possible across the state.
MS. WOLF said the working group is also appreciative of the
Office of Governor Dunleavy and staff member Mr. Jordan Shilling
for his efforts in staffing the 2020 Census Alaska Complete
Count Commission. The working group appreciates Mr. Shilling's
communication and collaboration.
She noted that during the fall of 2019, the Alaska Census
Working Group launched Alaska Counts, a statewide education
campaign.
She directed attention to the slide, the 2020 Census Began on
January 21 in Toksook Bay. She said that while the 2020 Census
will count most Alaskan households in March, the census started
the previous week in Toksook Bay. The U.S. Census director
counted the people of Toksook Bay in person.
She said that when the rest of the country celebrates Census Day
on April 1, 2020, Alaska will be well on its way to census
completion by. Since the census is underway in parts of the
state and fast approaching in others, now is time for public
engagement.
4:12:02 PM
MS. WOLF displayed the slide, Why the Census Matters for Alaska.
She said there are 3.2 billion reasons to care about the 2020
Census because that is how many federal dollars flow into Alaska
each year based on census data. The federal funding goes to
every Alaska community for everything from roads, airports,
hospitals, and schools. Given the current state and local budget
gaps, it is increasingly important that Alaska receive its fair
and equitable share of federal resources.
She pointed out that if Alaskans go undercounted in the 2020
Census, the state will not receive its fair share of critical
funding for 10 years. Alaska only has one shot at getting the
census right and the impact lasts for 10 years.
MS. WOLF explained that there are many other reasons why the
2020 Census matters. Future organizational plans across sectors
rely on accurate census data. Whether a local government is
determining a need for a new program, an airline deciding to add
another flight route, or a store deciding where it should open,
all depends on good census data.
4:13:04 PM
MS WOLF turned to the slide, The Census Affects All Alaskans.
She said the census matters because it is about dollars, data,
and democracy. In dollars, the census determines funding for
critical services for the state and communities for everything
from police and fire to roads and airports, to housing and
healthcare. Every community and every Alaskan benefits from the
dollars that come into the state each year based on census data.
Organizations across the state and across sectors use census
data for planning.
MS. WOLF said in terms of democracy, census data determines
local and state political boundaries through the redistricting
process. Voting and civil rights and law enforcement requires
accurate census data.
MS. WOLF emphasized that accurate census data is critical for
the previously noted reasons. The risk of not having accurate
data could mean a reduction in federal funds for Alaska and its
local governments, an inability for planning by local
communities, improper enforcement of the voting and civil rights
laws, and possibly the reduction of essentials services.
MS. WOLF reviewed the slide, The Census Affects Alaska's
Economy. She emphasized that the 2020 Census is critical to the
state's economy, not just for state and local government
programs, but for businesses across the state. The critical
census-based data that businesses use to plan and invest in
Alaska and communities ranges from macro measures like GDP to
local market data. Getting an accurate count is essential to
ensuring accurate data, not just for governments and nonprofits,
but also for private businesses of all sizes that are investing
and employing Alaskans in Alaska.
4:15:19 PM
MS. WOLF discussed the Threats to An Accurate Count in 2020.
These include distrust, language barriers, and barriers to
connectivity.
She said the census is working against some specific barriers to
an accurate count that includes a general distrust of
government, concerns about data privacy and confidentiality, and
language barriers.
She detailed that the 2020 Census will only provide a complete
set of language translations in 12 non-English languages and
materials translation into 56 languages. However, none of the
census translations are in Alaska Native languages.
MS. WOLF said there are connectivity barriers because the 2020
Census will be the first census to push online response. While
not all households in Alaska will respond online, a digital
divide exists. The state will have to overcome the digital
divide to make sure all Alaskans can respond in the 2020 Census.
The working group appreciates the headway that the 2020 Census
is making with hiring census workers for each Alaska Native
village to do a paper count. However, the census for urban
places will be mostly an internet-based process.
She reported that the federal government has made fewer
resources available for an accurate count in Alaska. She said an
overall communication barrier exists because the U.S. Census
Bureau will not do outreach to Alaskans who only have P.O. boxes
to alert them that the census is coming to their communities.
4:16:48 PM
CHAIR BISHOP asked how many committee members have heard the
commercials for the 2020 Census.
MS. WOLF noted that the commercials might be from either the
U.S. Census Bureau or the Alaska Census Working Group.
CHAIR BISHOP remarked that the commercials are probably from the
U.S. Census Bureau. He confirmed that committee members have
heard the 2020 Census commercials.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked what the plan is for providing
interpreters for Alaska Native villages and other communities.
He assumed that the previous census missed the population that
required interpreters.
MS. WOLF replied the census overview will address interpreters.
4:18:02 PM
MS. WOLF summarized that the Alaska Census Working Group is all
about recognizing the importance of the 2020 Census for Alaska
and the many risks of an undercount. The working group wants the
statewide education campaign to combat all the previously noted
issues. The working group has visited many legislators to
specifically assist in communicating with constituents. The
census resources address the huge barriers that exist, and
legislators are critical voices along the way.
MS. WOLF explained that the overall goal at Alaska Counts is for
Alaskans to understand three basic messages. The first is the
census is confidential and data is only for statistical
purposes. The U.S. Census Bureau cannot share data outside of
the agency, bureau officials face up to five years in prison and
a $250,000 fine for sharing any personal census data.
She pointed out that the 2020 Census has more safeguards in
place and will ask for less information than what the Permanent
Fund Dividend requires from Alaskans. Every Alaskan community
benefits from the 2020 Census counting everyone.
MS. WOLF concluded saying the 2020 Census is easy to complete.
She said her favorite thing to say about the census is, "It's 10
questions, it takes 10 minutes, and it will have 10 years of
funding impact."
MS. WOLF said Ms. Beret Wilber with Alaska Counts will answer
questions about communications strategy and highlight the
translated census materials.
4:20:15 PM
BERET WILBER, Communications Manager, Alaska Counts, Anchorage,
Alaska, began her presentation with the slide, Alaska Counts
Strategy. She explained that the census strategy is based on
trying to elevate trusted voices in communities. Alaskans trust
each other so one strategy is not to tell Alaskans what to do,
but to get local networks and local people to talk to each other
about the census by elevating trusted people within their
communities and within their networks. Alaska Counts has put
together a strategy that uses a lot of different communications
options across mediums by using direct communications and
advertising from radio public service announcements (PSAs) to
digital advertising. Alaska Counts is doing plenty of outreach,
starting with a mini-grant program along with creating census
materials. She noted that she will talk about some of
translation work and facilitating materials that Alaska Counts
has done.
4:21:40 PM
MS. WILBER pointed out that the U.S. Census Bureau does not mail
anything to P.O. boxes. She said Alaska Counts has made it its
mission to send mailers to warn people that the 2020 Census is
coming. They sent out two of the planned four mailers to about
88,000 P.O. boxes across Alaska. The mailers are not just to
rural Alaska; the mailers include about 12,000 P.O. boxes within
the Municipality of Anchorage. Sending mailers is how Alaska
Counts is getting information to people.
She noted that Alaska Counts has public service announcements
(PSAs) playing in English statewide through the Alaska Public
Radio Network (APRN) and translated PSAs in Yup'ik, Denaakk'e,
Gwich'in, and Iupiaq. Alaska Counts contracted with a digital
advertising company to promote the 2020 Census. The digital
advertising campaign has had 64,000 impressions for Alaskans and
that includes: search engine optimization (SCO), geo-targeting
based on internet usage location, social media promoted content,
pre-roll videos, as well as traditional online displays and
advertising banners.
MS. WILBER reported that since January 1, Alaska Counts has been
contacted by local, national, and international reporters. they
have participated in more than 15 articles that have come out
from local media to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Alaska Counts also has social media for building networks and
communications to provide people an easy way to get in touch and
ask questions. Alaska Counts currently has 537 followers and the
previous week's posts reached a total of 24,000 people.
4:24:22 PM
MS. WILBER displayed the Alaska Counts Outreach slide. She
explained that in terms of outreach, Alaska Counts started by
creating a logo, brand, and materials. They want Alaskans across
the state to have access to materials that are professional but
Alaskan. Alaska Counts has helped local communities and
organizations to remake census materials that are specific to
them. She noted the slide shows the buttons Alaska Counts has
made, including Alaska Native language buttons that say, "I'm
Tlingit and I count." Some have been translated into Alaska
Native languages, which allows individuals to represent
themselves in a way they feel is most appropriate.
MS. WILBER said Alaska Counts has partnered with different
organizations and people across the state. Alaska Counts has
tables at events like the Alaska Municipal League's annual
conference, the Alaska Federation of Native's annual conference,
and a recent refuge and immigration services event held in
Anchorage. Alaska Counts is always looking at ways to engage
partners, to build networks, and to elevate trusted voices.
She noted that one of the big opportunities that Alaska Counts
is proud of is its mini-grant program. Any organization can
apply for a grant of $250 to do local outreach in their
community as they see best. Alaska Counts has received 62
applications and awarded 40 grants for a little less than
$10,000. Counts is proud that 23 of its 30 census tracks has
received mini-grant funds.
4:26:39 PM
MS. WILBER said Alaska Counts would like to hear from the
following districts to provide funding for local resources:
Northwest Arctic Borough, Nome Census Area, Bethel Census Area,
Bristol Bay Borough, both Aleutians East and West Census Areas,
and the Valdez-Cordova Census Area.
MS. WILBER displayed the slide, Alaska Counts Language Access.
She said one strategy pillar is language translation. The U.S.
Census Bureau really does not have the expertise or the
resources to translate anything into Alaska Native languages.
The state will have to translate its own census materials.
Translating materials will build trust and get people invested
in the census, especially with people in some of the hardest to
count places in the nation. Translated materials will speak to
people, not just in terms of their content but in terms of the
census mechanics.
MS. WILBER displayed the slide showing a cross-cultural event in
Anchorage in December 2019. She explained that Alaska Counts
organized and paid for, with help from partners at the Alaska
Public Interest Research Group, more than 25 speakers of Yup'ik,
Gwich'in, Denaakk'e, and Iupiaq to come to Anchorage and have a
cross-cultural dialogue. The Native speakers broke into
different groups every day, as well as talking across groups,
and did more than six hours of translation a day on census ideas
and materials.
She conceded that there are no easy ways to translate census
ideas like apportionment into Yup'ik. The translators looked at
words and ideas to describe census ideas in ways that made sense
culturally. One of the examples that translators used a lot when
talking about apportionment and the federal government awarding
money to Alaska was to compare the process of equally dividing
moose meat among people in the community. Census translation is
both translation and making things culturally relevant.
4:29:32 PM
MS. WILBER stated that Alaska Counts is proud of its Alaska
Native Language Resource, a result of the language conference in
Anchorage. Alaska counts has posted four translation language
guides on its website. Native translators were also excited
about creating Alaska Native PSAs. They have posted both audio
and video PSAs on their website and YouTube channel for social
media sharing. The PSAs are bilingual in Alaska Native languages
and English.
4:30:45 PM
MS. WILBER reported that Alaska Native language public service
announcements have been translated into Yup'ik, Denaakk'e,
Gwich'in, and Iupiaq.
She explained that since Alaska Counts uses its website as a
clearinghouse for useful census resources, the intent was to
make sure world language information was readily available. She
said Alaska is very diverse, noting that people in the Anchorage
School District alone speak more than 110 languages. Alaska
Counts partnered with the Municipality of Anchorage to print the
Know Your Rights cards in 10 languages for people who do not
speak English. The cards include important information about how
the census is safe, confidential, and easy to complete. Alaska
Counts also has a list of more than 55 world languages on its
website for Alaskans who might be more comfortable speaking a
different first language than English.
MS. WILBER stated that trusted voices matter in Alaska and they
are what will make the difference in 2020. Alaska Counts saw
translators at the language summit come in the door not knowing
what the census was, not being interested in answering it, and
not really trusting the census. However, translators ultimately
realized the importance of the census and the difference it will
make in communities. Alaska Counts felt that the language summit
success was really galvanizing local, trusted voices to be able
to take the census message back to their communities.
4:33:25 PM
MS. WILBER displayed the slide, Specific ways to get involved as
a legislator and staff that read as follows:
• Visit alaskacounts.org to sign up for census updates.
• Use the materials on alaskacounts.org to write your
constituent newsletters, blog posts, social media, and
other outreach.
• Connect with the local Complete Count Committee in your
region.
• Be a strong and consistent voice about the importance of
the census.
• Share the mini-grant opportunity with organizations in your
district.
• Take and complete the Census Champion Checklist.
MS. WILBER displayed the slide, More ways to get involved as a
legislator and staff that read as follows:
• Consider teaming up to write a bipartisan letter to the
editor with a fellow legislator.
• Bring census materials to your constituent and caucus
meetings.
• Include the census in your newsletter updates to
constituents from now until Census Day.
• Talk to your friends, family, colleagues, and constituents
about the importance of being counted.
MS. WILBER said Alaska Counts is learning more and more about
how to maximize trusted voices in communities around the census.
Input from legislators and other shared ideas led to specific
questions. Most all legislators are doing regular constituent
outreach, so Alaska Counts is trying to catch up to provide
customized materials. The goal is to provide information to
share with constituents.
MS. WILBER noted that Complete Count Committees are in every
region. While Alaska Counts is a statewide effort, the Complete
Count Committee is on the local level. She shared that she is on
the Complete Count Committee for Anchorage and noted that 60
people came together to talk about activating in communities
across Anchorage. She said there are Complete Count Committees
that are localizing the census effort, using Alaska Counts and
U.S. Census Bureau materials as well. She suggested that the
rule should be to talk about the census and activate a community
when there are more than three people in a room. By talking
about the census, the more normalized it will become, the more
everybody wants to participate, and some of the fear will
disappear.
MS. WILBER asked legislators to spread the word on the mini-
grant program that Ms. Wolf mentioned. She said building trust
occurs when Alaskans talk to Alaskans.
She added that legislators received a check list for being a
census champion. Handing out the check list will help people
know about partnering opportunities. The simple act of talking
to friends, family, and colleagues about why the census matters
for Alaska will make a big difference.
4:36:25 PM
She displayed the slide, Know How and When Your Community Will
Be Counted. The slide showed the 2020 Census map for the Alaska
census count with the following information:
• 2020 Census Initial Contact:
o Internet First mailing (English)
o Internet First mailing (bilingual)
o Internet Choice mailing (English)
o Internet Choice mailing (bilingual)
o Hand-delivered packet (Update/Leave)
o Counted in-person (Update/Enumerate)
o Counted in-person (Remote Alaska)
MS. WILBER encouraged legislators to use the online U.S. Census
Bureau tool to review census counting by districts. She noted
that the slide shows a Facebook page that shared a photo of
census takers in Aniak. The announcement normalized a local
moment for random people roaming around the community. The
Facebook announcement looks simple but it makes a huge
difference and that is the kind of needed outreach that will
make the census work in Alaska.
MS. WILBER reiterated that the census is 10 questions, it takes
10 minutes, but it has 10 years of impact and everyone can make
a difference in this area.
4:38:21 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE noted that he signed up with Alaska Counts
during the presentation. He suggested that Alaska should make
the woman in Toksook Bay a superstar for being the first person
counted of 280 million Americans. He asked for the woman's name.
MS. WOLF answered that the woman's first name is Lizzie, [Lizzie
Chimiugak Nenguryarr]. She noted the article about Lizzie in the
Washington Post that has gone all over the world. She said
Lizzie is Alaska's Rockstar.
CHAIR BISHOP thanked the Alaska Census Working Group and Alaska
Counts. He said the individuals involved in the census are
passionate about what they do and for a good reason, $3.2
billion.
4:40:02 PM
KORENA NOVY, Assistant Regional Census Manager, U.S. Census
Bureau, Los Angeles Census Center, Los Angeles, California,
noted that the bureau has an area office in downtown Anchorage
that is responsible for the entire state.
She explained that her overview will go over the bureau's
staffing status, where the bureau is now, and where the bureau
plans to go forward deeper into peak operations.
She detailed that she will also go over a summary of operations
conducted in Alaska and their schedules, especially for
operations that are very specific to Alaska. She added that she
will show what the bureau has done and what the bureau still
needs to do to get a complete count.
MS. NOVY displayed slide 3 that lists the management staff in
the Area Census Office. She pointed out that the U.S. Census
Bureau has a full management staff in the Alaska area office.
She said what is unique about Mr. Bottorff, Area Manager, and
his position is that most of bureau's area managers are based
out of the regional census center. However, the bureau made a
deliberate decision to hire an area manager who lives and has
lived for a considerable amount of time in Alaska. Not only does
Mr. Bottorff live in Alaska and have close knowledge, he is also
the only area manager focused on just one area census office in
one state. Mr. Bottorff can get as much census support in the
state as possible.
MS. NOVY detailed that the U.S. Census Bureau has an area census
office manager, a lead census field manager, three census field
managers focused on remote Alaska operations, three census field
managers to focus on the other peak operations, and a recruiting
manager who has recruited 9,690 applicants. She added that the
bureau also has an administrative manager and an IT manager.
4:42:08 PM
CHAIR BISHOP asked her to explain the recruiting managers'
responsibilities.
MS. NOVY explained that the recruiting managers who are
interested in working in the census are not currently employees.
CHAIR BISHOP asked if recruiting managers are considered
potential employees.
MS. NOVY answered yes.
She displayed the chart showing the ACO office and field Staff.
She detailed that the bureau office is open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. to make sure the field staff have enough support. During
peak census operations the bureau office will extent hours to
get all the necessary work done to complete the count.
She said the bureau has selected 558 enumerators who are
eligible to work rural Alaska. The reason for not deploying
enumerators is because the way the bureau conducts remote Alaska
operations is to travel from village to village and location to
location. Enumerator training occurs at each location so
deployment numbers will increase over the next couple of months.
She noted that NRFU selection will start on February 14 and NRFU
enumerator selection starts on March 7.
4:45:19 PM
MS. NOVY displayed slide 5, Type of Enumeration Area 4 Remote
Alaska. It read as follows:
• Remote AK (RA Update Enumerate) is the method used to
enumerate the most sparsely settled and isolated parts of
Alaska, requiring special travel, early enumeration, and
other special arrangements.
• Enumerators verify the location of each housing unit and
knock on doors to conduct interviews.
• As enumeration is completed for a village, the count will
be validated by a sworn-in local official. This process
allows village leaders to review and certify the count for
accuracy.
• The enumeration of group quarters, transitory locations, or
any unusual housing situations in these areas will be
conducted as part of the Remote Alaska operation.
MS. WOLF noted that on the map on slide 6, the purple area
represents remote Alaska operations and the green area is all
other peak operations. She said the bureau has an expansive
geography to cover over the next couple of months.
MS. NOVY displayed slide 7, Remote Alaska Group Quarters and
Transitory Locations, that read as follows:
• Collected information on Group Quarters and Transitory
Locations during Initial Village Visit Operation (August
October 2019).
• GQ and TL Advance Letters sent 12/16/2019.
• GQ and TL Advance Contact started 1/13/20 with clerks
making calls from ACO and updating the GQ and TL Production
Control Systems.
• GQs have the option to do eResponse, In Person Interviews,
or Paper Response Data Collection.
4:47:53 PM
MS. NOVY displayed slide 8, Remote Alaska Milestones, that
contained the following information:
• CFS Selections: October 17-31, 2019
• Enumerator Selections: November 22-December 6, 2019
• Early CFS Training (For Initial Village Visits): July 22,
2019
• Clerical Training: December 16-18, 2019
• CFS Training (on a flow): December 9, 2019-January 31, 2020
• Remote Alaska Wave 1: January 21-February 17, 2020
• Remote Alaska Wave 2: February 18-March 17, 2020
• Remote Alaska Wave 3, March 18-April 30, 2020
• Enumerator On-the Job Training: January 21-April 23, 2020
4:49:01 PM
MS. NOVY displayed slide 9, Type of Enumeration Area 1 Self
Response, that read as follows:
• Self Response is the primary response data collection
methodology for the 2020 Census.
• Initial invitations to participants in these areas are
provided by letter, postcard, or census questionnaire. This
invitation will have a unique ID associated with the
housing unit and will be delivered by the United States
Postal Service (USPS).
• Most households in the country will receive a series of up
to 5 mailings from mid-March through end of April
invitation letter, reminder postcards, paper questionnaire.
• Residents are encouraged to complete their questionnaire on
the internet.
• Residents will also have an option to respond via phone or
paper response.
• Residents who have not responded by a specific date will be
included in the Nonresponse follow-up (NRFU) operation.
MS. NOVY noted that one thing not included in the slide is the
bureau's Field Verification Field Operation. She said a lot of
people seem to be interested in the follow up operation
conducted during NRFU.
MS. NOVY noted that there will be households that respond to the
census that do not have a special census ID. When the bureau
receives those responses, they will crosscheck addresses with a
master address file (MAF). NFRU enumerators will receive
unconfirmed household addresses to verify that the addresses
still exist. An interview does not occur because the bureau
already obtained the census information, but the bureau captures
the address data.
CHAIR BISHOP remarked that the U.S. Post Office ought to be
running in the black during the census in March and April.
4:51:07 PM
MS. NOVY explained that on slide 10, the light purple area on
the map designates self-response and non-response follow up if
needed.
MS. NOVY displayed slide 11, Non-Response Follow-up Milestones,
that contained the following information:
• CFS Selection (Early NRFU): January 10-24, 2020
• Enumerator Selection: January 30-February 13, 2020
• Early NRFU CFS Training: March 10-18, 2020
• Early NRFU Enumerator Training: March 30-April 8, 2020
• Early NRFU Operation begins April 9, 2020
• NRFU Re-interview begins April 10, 2020
• NRFU CFS Training: April 14-22, 2020
• NRFU Enumerator Training: May 2-14, 2020
• NRFU Operation begins May 13, 2020
• NRFU Production Ends July 24, 2020
• NRFY Re-interview Ends July 31, 2020
MS. NOVY said the bureau has met some of the milestones already.
She said Early NRFU will occur in blocks in and around college
universities where students may have moved once the NRFU
operations start. The Early NRFU allows the bureau to capture
students before they go home.
MS. NOVY displayed slide 12, Type of Enumeration Area 2 Update
Enumerate, that read as follows:
• Update Enumerate (UE) is designed to be conducted in areas
where the initial visit requires both updating the address
and conducting enumeration in remote geographic areas that
present unique challenges with accessing housing units.
• Goal to minimize the needed number of personal visits.
• The majority of the UE operation will occur in remote
geographic areas in Southeast Alaska.
MS. NOVY said the UE is also very specific to Alaska. The bureau
only does the UE in Maine and Alaska.
4:53:10 PM
MS. NOVY explained that on slide 13, the turquoise areas of the
map represent UE non-remote. She said the enumerations are not
all captured on the map.
She MS. NOVY displayed a chart showing updated enumerate
milestones that contained the following information.
• CFS Selections: December 26, 2019-January 9, 2020
• Enumerator Assistant Selections: January 3-17, 2020
• Enumerator Selections: January 10-24, 2020
• CFS Training: February 24-28, 2020
• Enumerator Assistant Training: March 3-6, 2020
• Enumerator Training: March 10-13
• UE Begins: March 16, 2020
• UE Listing QC Begins: March 19, 2020
• UE RI Begins: March 23, 2020
• UE Ends: April 23, 2020
• UE Listing QC and RI Ends: April 30, 2020
MS. NOVY displayed slide 15, Type of Enumeration Area 6 Update
Leave, that read as follows:
• Update leave (UL) is designed to be conducted in areas
where the majority of housing units either do not have mail
delivered to the physical location of the housing unit, or
the mail delivery information for the housing unit cannot
be verified; e.g. areas with a high concentration of HUs
without city-style addresses, areas affected by natural
disasters, areas with a high concentration of seasonally
vacant units.
• Enumerators canvass assignment areas to update census
address and map information and leave an invitation to
participate in the Census.
• Residents who do not responds via phone, paper, or internet
by a certain date will be followed up with as part of the
NRFU operation.
MS. NOVY explained that the UL is the last type of operation and
enumeration conducted only in Alaska. UL feeds into NRFU when
necessary.
4:55:16 PM
MS. NOVY displayed slide 16, Type of Enumeration Area (TEA). She
noted that Alaska is the only state that has every type of
enumeration involved in getting a complete count. She emphasized
that the bureau wants to count everyone.
MS. NOVY displayed slide 17, Update Leave Milestones, that
contains the following information:
• CFS Selection: December 20, 2019-January 3, 2020
• Enumerator Selection: January 6-17, 2020
• CFS Training: February 18-27, 2020
• QC CFS Training: February 26-March 6, 2020
• Enumerator Training: March 6-13, 2020
• QC Enumerator Training: March 13-20, 2020
• Conduct UL: March 15-April 10, 2020
• Conduct UL QC: March 22-April 17, 2020
• Reminder Letter Mailed: April 1, 2020
• Reminder Postcard Mailed: April 20, 2020
MS. NOVY displayed slide 18, Group Quarters Operations, that
read as follows:
• Through a series of Group Quarters (GQ) Operations, we
enumerate a diverse range of group living arrangements,
including specialized institutional and non-institutional
facilities. Resident services provided at GQs may include
custodial or medical care as well as other types of
assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those
receiving these services.
• Service-Based Enumeration (SBE) provides an opportunity for
people without conventional housing or people experiencing
homelessness to be included in the census by enumerating
them at places where they receive services, or at pre-
identified outdoor locations.
• Enumeration of Transitory Locations (ETL) is a relatively
small but very critical operation to count residents who do
not have a usual residence. Types of Transitory Locations
(TL) include RV parks, campgrounds, hotels/motels, marinas,
racetracks, and carnivals.
MS. NOVY explained that the U.S. Census Bureau conducts
enumerations in federal prisons. Detainees only have one option
and that is with eResponse. Federal detainees in the custody of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs have five avenues to respond to the
census via area census offices. The same method applies to other
correctional facilities throughout all the states.
4:58:25 PM
She displayed slide 20, Enumeration at Military Installations,
that contained the following information:
• The Anchorage ACO has multiple major military installations
within its boundary including:
o Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
o Eielson AFB
o Fort Wainwright
o Coast Guard Station Kodiak
• The Census Bureau works directly with the military to count
military personnel on military installations.
MS. NOVY detailed that the bureau works directly with the
military to count military personnel on installations as part of
the bureau's GQ series of operations. Military residents or
military GQ residents are personnel living in barracks and dorms
located in the installation. Military residents only have the
option of self-enumeration which means they can eResponse their
residence or bureau staff will drop off census information and
pick them up when they have completed enumeration.
CHAIR BISHOP asked if the census count at Eielson Air Force Base
can occur when the 3,500 personnel arrive.
MS. NOVY answered that she would follow up with the answer.
SENATOR MICCICHE noted that the bureau has approximately 6,000
employees for approximately 735,000 Alaskans, roughly 1 employee
per 122 residents. He asked if Alaska is particularly difficult
to count.
MS. NOVY replied some areas in Alaska are more difficult than
areas in other ACO districts and states, mainly because Alaska
is one of two states that still do a paper enumeration, which is
time consuming and requires more staff.
5:01:03 PM
SENATOR SHOWER noted Chair Bishop's comment on Eielson Air Force
Base and said the population increase is not insignificant due
to the more rural aspect of the base. He pointed out that
Eielson AFB will receive roughly $1 billion in military
construction and host two full-sized squadrons. The population
increase in the small area and the use of resources will be
significant, especially with added family members. He asked if
the bureau could account forward for the increased population
and resource use. He said the resources flowing in will not be
allocated correctly because of the big population move.
MS. NOVY agreed that the population change at Eielson AFB is
significant. She said the census count depends on the date of
residency because everything is based on a reference date of
April 1, 2020. She explained that she would not be able to
answer the question until she knows when those individuals live
on the base or within the installation.
5:02:20 PM
MS. NOVY displayed slide 19, Group Quarters Milestones, that
contained the following information:
• GQAC Clerical Training: January 30-31, 2020
• Conduct GQAC Office Operation: February 3-March 6, 2020
• GQAC CFS Training: February 18-19, 2020
• GQE CFS Training: March 9-12, 2020
• GQE CFS Assistant Training: March 17-20, 2020
• GQE Enumerator Training: March 24-27, 2020
• Conduct Service Based Enumeration (SBE): March 30-April 1,
2020
• Conduct GQE: April 1-June 5, 2020
• Conduct Domestic Violence Shelters (DVS): April 1-15, 2020
• Conduct GQE RI: April 1-June 5, 2020
• eResponse Cutoff: May 1, 2020
• Late GQE: July 1-31, 2020
MS. NOVY noted that the SBE will conduct enumerations in
shelters, soup kitchens, mobile food vans, and Targeted Non-
Sheltered Outdoor Location Enumerations (TNSOL) for those
individuals experiencing homelessness.
MS. NOVY explained that the Late GQE will occur after the
Federal State Cooperative for Population Estimates (FSCPE),
reviews the bureau's early GQ results in late June. FSCPE will
identify potentially missing or misallocated GQs within their
states. The bureau's early results will also allow for GQ case
reviews for specific facilities and locations where enumerators
did not get a response. The nonresponse could be due to refusal
or GQ availability at the time of the enumeration. The early GQ
numbers will allow the bureau to update contact information and
proceed with its Late GQE in July.
5:05:19 PM
MS. NOVY said her census overview covered the different series
of operations that the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct for
enumerations. She specified that she just works on operations
and not on preparation for the census.
SENATOR SHOWER asked when the U.S. Census Bureau will release
the final 2020 Census results.
MS. NOVY answered that the bureau will deliver the census
results to the President on January 31, 2021 and four years
later the early results come out.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked how the U.S. Census Bureau accounts for
Alaskans experiencing homelessness that are essentially using
services of some sort but live in camps and not in shelters.
MS. NOVY answered that identifying individuals experiencing
homelessness is extremely difficult. The bureau works with
several hundred outreach partners as well as stakeholder
organizations based in Alaska to identify the locations and
facilities that serve individuals that may be experiencing
homelessness. The bureau also works with its geography
department to identify locations. The bureau will be training
some early CFSs for GQAC to pre-identify and confirm transitory
outdoor locations. The bureau is getting prepared as early as
possible for the TONSOL and SBE operations.
5:08:01 PM
CHAIR BISHOP said he is very confident and impressed by the
census presenters' enthusiasm and dedication to detail to get a
complete count. He said kudos to the U.S. Census Bureau for what
they are doing to execute the census and their follow-up is
remarkable.
5:09:04 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bishop adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting at 5:09 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SSSB 121 ver. M.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
SB 121 |
| SB121 Sponsor Statement ver. M.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
SB 121 |
| SB121 Langauge Repealed 1-31-2020.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
SB 121 |
| SB121 Resolutions and Letters- Member Orgainzations- 2-4-2020.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
SB 121 |
| US Census Bureau Presentation.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
Census 2020 |
| Alaska Counts - Senate CRA Hearing 2-4-20.pdf |
SCRA 2/4/2020 3:45:00 PM |
Census 2020 |