03/28/2017 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing: Alaska Police Standards Council | |
| SB8 | |
| HB78 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 28, 2017
3:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator David Wilson
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator John Coghill
Senator Dennis Egan
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Alaska Police Standards Council
Wendi Shackelford
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SENATE BILL NO. 8
"An Act allowing federally recognized tribal governments to
receive contributions from permanent fund dividends."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 78
"An Act establishing the second Monday of October of each year
as Indigenous Peoples Day."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 8
SHORT TITLE: PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS
01/09/17 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/17
01/18/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/17 (S) STA, FIN
03/23/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/23/17 (S) Bill Hearing Postponed to 3/28/17
03/28/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 78
SHORT TITLE: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WESTLAKE
01/25/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/25/17 (H) CRA
01/31/17 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
01/31/17 (H) Moved HB 78 Out of Committee
01/31/17 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/01/17 (H) CRA RPT 4DP 2NR
02/01/17 (H) DP: WESTLAKE, DRUMMOND, FANSLER, PARISH
02/01/17 (H) NR: TALERICO, RAUSCHER
02/03/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/03/17 (H) VERSION: HB 78
02/06/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/17 (S) CRA, STA
02/21/17 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/21/17 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/23/17 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/23/17 (S) Heard & Held
02/23/17 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/28/17 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/17 (S) Moved HB 78 Out of Committee
02/28/17 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
03/01/17 (S) CRA RPT 4DP
03/01/17 (S) DP: BISHOP, HOFFMAN, GARDNER, MACKINNON
03/23/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/23/17 (S) Bill Hearing Postponed to 3/28/17
03/28/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
WENDI SHACKELFORD, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the public-member appointee to
the Alaska Police Standards Council.
DOUG LETCH, Staff
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 8.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 8.
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 78.
ELIZABETH MEDICINE CROW, President/CEO
First Alaskans Institute
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
CONSTANCE MUNRO, Advocate
Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
KATHERINE HOPE, Advocate
Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
ANNE FULLER, Advocate
Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 10
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
E.J. DAVID, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
SHAWN ARNOLD, Superintendent
Nome Public Schools
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
YATIBAEY EVANS, Native Education Director
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 78.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:32:31 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Wilson, Egan, and Chair Dunleavy.
^Confirmation Hearing: Alaska Police Standards Council
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Alaska Police Standards Council
3:33:08 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that the committee would hear from
Wendi Shakelford, the governor's public-member appointee for the
Alaska Police Standards Council. He explained that the council's
mission is to produce and maintain a highly trained and
positively motivated professional, capable of meeting
contemporary law enforcement standards of performance.
He detailed that Ms. Shackelford was first appointed to the
council as a public member on July 27, 2016 and reappointed on
March 1, 2017. He disclosed that Ms. Shackelford's term will
expire on March 1, 2021.
3:33:49 PM
WENDI SHACKELFORD, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council,
Anchorage, Alaska, provided her background information to the
committee members as follows:
I am a retired police officer with the Anchorage
Police Department where I served for 20 years. My
specialty during that time was crisis intervention
with folks experiencing significant mental-health
issues. I have been pretty involved in the ongoing
training of police officers during my 20-year career
and now that I'm retired I have continued to do that
sort of support work training police officers with
mental-health-crisis intervention as well as peer
support and self-care.
3:33:54 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL joined the committee meeting.
3:34:54 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened and closed public testimony.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY read the following statement regarding committee
appointment recommendations:
In accordance with AS 39.05.080, the Senate State
Affairs Committee reviewed the following and
recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint
session for consideration: Wendi Shackelford for the
Police Standards Council. This does not reflect an
intent by any of the members to vote for or against
the confirmation of the individual during any further
sessions.
3:35:38 PM
At ease.
SB 8-PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
3:36:22 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order. He announced
the consideration of SB 8.
3:36:41 PM
DOUG LETCH, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that SB 8 is straight-
forward legislation which will allow the federally recognized
tribal governments in Alaska to receive contributions from the
permanent fund's dividends through the popular
"Pick.Click.Give." program. He detailed that Senator Stevens'
office was approached by the Kodiak tribal organizations for the
"Pick.Click.Give." idea a few years ago and other organizations
around the state have provided additional support as well. He
noted that nobody has testified in opposition to the bill.
He disclosed that Alaska has more than 200-federally-recognized-
tribal governments that provide a variety of cultural,
charitable and social services to their members and communities
throughout the state. He said like many nonprofits, financial
donations are a key component to the tribal organizations'
budgets. He summarized that the addition of tribal organizations
to the "Pick.Click.Give." program will allow them the same
opportunities that Alaska's charitable organizations and
nonprofits enjoy by being a part of the program.
He detailed that SB 8 will allow the Alaska Department of
Revenue to add the state's federally-recognized governments to
the "Pick.Click.Give." program. He noted that the federally-
recognized governments will be subjected to the same
"Pick.Click.Give." regulations and the $250 application fee that
is currently applied to program participants. He added that SB 8
has a zero-fiscal note because the program's cost is borne by
the people that will take part in the program. He noted that
since 2009, "Pick.Click.Give." has made it easier for Alaskans
to help hundreds of nonprofits fulfill their missions through
direct contributions through the permanent fund dividend (PFD).
He set forth that SB 8 will help tribal entities continue their
work in a new manner.
3:37:14 PM
SENATOR COGHILL joined the committee meeting.
3:39:35 PM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 8, reiterated that the bill was submitted at the
request of native corporations to allow them to participate in
the "Pick.Click.Give." program.
SENATOR WILSON stated that he has a general concern or question
regarding the bill. He asserted that he is fine with the many
people that like to give their PFD to charities and the act is a
wonderful thing to do. He noted that depending on how the tribal
courts are set up, he is concerned with children's rights. He
asked if there is a clause that does not allow a child's
custodian to give the child's PFD to a tribal organization.
MR. LETCH replied that he will get back to Senator Wilson with
additional information.
3:40:57 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that SB 8 will be held in committee for
future consideration.
3:41:06 PM
At ease.
HB 78-INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
3:41:34 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of HB 78.
3:41:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 78, specified that the bill establishes
the second Monday of October each year as "Indigenous Peoples
Day," the day that also recognizes "Columbus Day." He noted that
the bill earlier addressed by the committee pointed out that
there are over 220 tribes in Alaska and HB 78 recognizes those
native cultures and their rich history of working with everyone.
He mentioned that Governor Walker has proclaimed Indigenous
Peoples Day the second Monday of October over the past two years
and the intent of the bill is to continue its observance.
3:42:56 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public and invited testimony on HB 78.
3:43:23 PM
ELIZABETH MEDICINE CROW, President/CEO, First Alaskans
Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She
thanked Representative Westlake and Elizabeth Rexford for
putting forward HB 78 in support of Indigenous Peoples Day. She
disclosed that for the past few years there has been a
grassroots effort around the state to recognize the amazing
contributions of Alaska's diverse indigenous people. She
disclosed that both the governor of Alaska and the mayor of
Anchorage have recognized Indigenous Peoples Day over the past
several years and noted that the proclamations occurred with
great fanfare at the First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth
Conference. She set forth that HB 78 is incredibly important as
a way for people to feel a connection between Alaska and
Alaska's native people.
3:46:41 PM
CONSTANCE MUNRO, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She said HB 78
will recognize the thousands of years of native Alaskans'
culture, history and contributions that they gave to all the
people.
3:50:15 PM
KATHERINE HOPE, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She shared
stories of her Tlingit heritage and noted their emphasis in
treating people equally.
3:52:19 PM
ANNE FULLER, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood - Glacier Valley
Camp 70, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She said
through history the original people of Alaska have welcomed
newcomers and HB 78 offers the state and current residents an
opportunity to honor native Alaskan people.
3:53:01 PM
E.J. DAVID, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 78. He asserted that Indigenous Peoples Day should
have been done a long time ago out of respect to the indigenous
peoples of Alaska.
3:55:41 PM
SHAWN ARNOLD, Superintendent, Nome Public Schools, Nome, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 78. He set forth that Indigenous
Peoples Day recognizes and celebrates the heritage of indigenous
peoples throughout the Americas as well as the history and
contribution of Alaska natives. He asserted that recognition of
Indigenous Peoples Day is a matter of respect. He remarked that
recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day in October of 2015 made sense
to the Nome Public Schools because over 80 percent of its
students are of Alaska native heritage. He disclosed that the
Nome Public Schools was the second school district to recognize
Indigenous Peoples Day after Fairbanks. He opined that changing
the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous
Peoples Day would better reflect the state's communities and a
true, accurate account of the history of indigenous people
beginning long before Christopher Columbus sailed, which is
necessary to set the historical record straight and to respect
the traditional cultures and languages of Alaska's indigenous
people.
3:57:32 PM
YATIBAEY EVANS, Alaska Native Education Director, Fairbanks
North Star Borough School District, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 78. She disclosed that an Indigenous Peoples
Day resolution was first passed in 2015 by the Fairbanks North
Star Borough School District. She said the school district's
resolution began its process through a group of concerned
Alaskan-native parents that recognized a need for students and
the community to have a positive attribute to look up to and to
see all the contributions of the people that represent Alaska
over thousands of years. She set forth that Alaska's indigenous
people have contributed to the state's culture, structure,
economy, and society. She asserted that by acknowledging the
indigenous people, Alaska will create a positive precedence
which will further enhance multi-cultural connections and help
propel the state's communities forward.
3:59:18 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that invited testimony is concluded for
the day. He asked Representative Westlake if HB 78 would replace
Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE answered that Indigenous Peoples Day
would be inclusive of Columbus Day. He asserted that Alaska's
native people have never been exclusive, and their tradition
will proudly continue.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked Representative Westlake and noted that
his previous comment essentially says there is room enough on
the specified day in October for indigenous people.
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE asserted that there is room, "For all of
us."
4:00:14 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held HB 78 in committee for future consideration.
4:00:39 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate State Affairs Committee at
4:00 p.m.