Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/05/2014 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB154 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | HB 154 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 5, 2014
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 154(EDC)
"An Act relating to natural and cultural history repositories."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 154(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 154
SHORT TITLE: MUSEUM OF THE NORTH
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON
03/04/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/04/13 (H) EDC
04/05/13 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) NT 5DP 1NR
04/05/13 (H) DP: SEATON, REINBOLD, DRUMMOND, LEDOUX,
GATTIS
04/05/13 (H) NR: SADDLER
04/05/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/05/13 (H) Moved CSHB 154(EDC) Out of Committee
04/05/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/08/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/08/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 154(EDC)
04/09/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/09/13 (S) EDC
04/10/13 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/13 (S) Heard & Held
04/10/13 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
02/05/14 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
TIM LAMKIN, Staff
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information about SCS CSHB 154(EDC)
on behalf of the sponsor.
ROBERT BANGHART, Deputy Director
Libraries, Archives & Museums
Department of Education and Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of HB 154.
KEVIN WINKER, Chief Curator and Acting Director
Museum of the North
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 154.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:00:15 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner, Stedman, Huggins, Dunleavy, and
Chair Stevens.
HB 154-MUSEUM OF THE NORTH
8:00:28 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the only order of business would be
HB 154 relating to museums and state repositories. He said he
would take public testimony and review the new committee
substitute.
8:01:09 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to adopt SCS CSHB 154(EDC), labeled 28-
LS0613\R, as the working document.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided information about the new
CS on behalf of the sponsor. He explained Version R is a
departure from the original bill which the committee heard on
April 10, 2013. The original bill named the University of Alaska
Museum of the North as the official state repository. The new
version of the bill recognizes that the official state
repository should be the Alaska State Museum and allow, through
the regulatory process, other branch museums in the state to be
established and designated as state repositories and to qualify
for federal monies. The bill improves partnerships among museums
throughout the state.
8:03:44 AM
ROBERT BANGHART, Deputy Director, Libraries, Archives & Museums,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau,
Alaska, testified in favor of HB 154. He explained that when HB
154 was introduced last year, the Alaska State Museum looked at
options to improve the integrated structure state museums are in
the process of undergoing. The statute that formed the Alaska
State Museum years ago designated Juneau as the single body or
state repository. Since then, most communities have established
a museum or cultural center and the definition of museum has
changed.
He related that the Alaska State Museum's constituents have
requested more inclusion in the process. This piece of
legislation defining the Alaska State Museum as the single state
museum, as involved with the regulatory process of identifying
museology technology and technique, justifying the declaration
of repository, and getting that forward to those constituents,
will allow small museums to perform their obligations more
intensely, apply for grant structures, and become more
sustainable. He opined that HB 154 would underscore the Alaska
State Museum's role as a leader in museums and cultural centers
in the state in the services it provides and allow it to exert
more effort specific to communities' needs. The bill would also
allow community museums to mature, more reflecting the changes
in the industry.
He noted the bill is in line with a secondary effort taking
place currently with the Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau
museums, where three major areas of importance were identified
in order to facilitate regional distribution of support and cut
costs. He termed the bill another element in maturing an already
cooperative and productive relationship.
CHAIR STEVENS questioned the timing of the bill, especially as
it relates to the Museum of the North.
MR. BANGHART indicated if the bill is adopted, the Alaska State
Museum would take the regulatory request to the State Board of
Education in the fall and then through the public process. He
pointed out that the process is slow-moving and looks at the
longer term.
8:08:41 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked how many repositories might be developed
around the state.
MR. BANGHART replied that currently the Alaska State Museum
provides services to over 80 museums and cultural centers in the
state that can access staff and grant funding.
He explained the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) deals with
grants and accreditations. However, the Alaska State Museum
changed the definition of a museum. Small institutions don't
have the economic capacity to meet the obligations set out by
AAM, so the Alaska State Museum deleted that criteria from the
definition of a museum and works with small institutions on the
professional aspects of museology. Federal regulations for the
definition of repository list criteria for professional services
as the primary obligation and AMA plays a secondary role. The
small institutions can meet the professional guidelines and the
Alaska State Museum can help the smaller entities to develop.
The federal government does not require recognition by AAM, only
by some professional group.
MR. BANGHART maintained that the Alaska State Museum is on the
cutting edge of museology because of its relationship with
indigenous cultures and the growth of the state museum process
over the past 125 years.
8:11:47 AM
SENATOR STEDMAN inquired what effect the bill would have on the
Sheldon Jackson Collection in Sitka.
MR. BANGHART explained that the Sheldon Jackson Collection is
already under the purview of the Alaska State Museum, so there
would be no specific effect as a result of the legislation.
Operational funds come out of the Alaska State Museum budget.
SENATOR STEDMAN reported that he had heard that HB 154 might
weaken the state museum system when, in fact, it would
strengthen it and provide for a better relationship with
outlying museums.
MR. BANGHART agreed. He said at first he feared the role of
sitting in judgment of other institutions, but the legislation
does much to strengthen relationships with, and between, small
museums.
CHAIR STEVENS thanked Mr. Banghart for his work.
8:13:49 AM
KEVIN WINKER, Chief Curator and Acting Director, Museum of the
North, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in favor of SB 154. He
explained the Museum of the North's goal of retention of
important objects in Alaska and to improve competitiveness for
federal funding. He opined that this legislation serves those
goals well and furthers museum partnerships across the state.
CHAIR STEVENS complimented the Museum of the North and the other
great state museums. He thanked Mr. Winker for his testimony.
8:15:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 154, testified in support of the new CS.
He thanked the committee for the work they have done on the
bill. He commented that the bill will help to ensure that the
state's artifacts of natural and historical collections are
preserved throughout the state. He said he was pleased with the
process that allows museums and facilities to apply for
designation as repositories.
CHAIR STEVENS said there was no public testimony or further
comments.
8:16:38 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report SCS CSHB 154(EDC) from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note. There being no objection, the motion carried.
8:16:54 AM
At ease
8:18:16 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stevens adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
at 8:18 a.m.
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