ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  February 10, 2015 8:07 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bob Lynn, Chair Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair Representative David Talerico Representative Louise Stutes Representative Max Gruenberg Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Liz Vazquez COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 13 "An Act requiring notice of the postage required to mail an absentee ballot on the envelope provided by the division of elections for returning an absentee ballot; and repealing the authority to include certain material from a political party in the election pamphlet." - MOVED CSHB 13(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 1 "An Act declaring the Arctic policy of the state." - MOVED CSHB 1(EDA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 65 "An Act relating to the disclosure of financial information by persons who are subject to the Legislative Ethics Act and by certain public officers, public employees, and candidates for public office." - BILL HEARING POSTPONED TO 2/12/15 PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 13 SHORT TITLE: ELECTION PAMPHLETS AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LYNN, GARA 01/21/15 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15 01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/15 (H) STA 02/05/15 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 02/05/15 (H) Heard & Held 02/05/15 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/10/15 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 BILL: HB 1 SHORT TITLE: STATE ARCTIC POLICY SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HERRON 01/21/15 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15 01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/15 (H) EDA, STA 01/27/15 (H) EDA AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 01/27/15 (H) Heard & Held 01/27/15 (H) MINUTE(EDA) 02/05/15 (H) EDA AT 11:30 AM BARNES 124 02/05/15 (H) Moved CSHB 1(EDA) Out of Committee 02/05/15 (H) MINUTE(EDA) 02/06/15 (H) EDA RPT CS(EDA) 1DP 5NR 02/06/15 (H) DP: HERRON 02/06/15 (H) NR: JOHNSON, TILTON, WOOL, ORTIZ, STUTES 02/10/15 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 1. NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director Institute of the North Alaska Arctic Policy Commission, Member Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 1. ROB EARL, Staff Representative Bob Herron Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Herron, prime sponsor, offered a sectional analysis during the hearing on HB 1. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:07:46 AM CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:07 a.m. Representatives Keller, Kreiss- Tomkins, Stutes, Talerico, and Lynn were present at the call to order. Representative Gruenberg arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 13-ELECTION PAMPHLETS AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS  8:08:40 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 13, "An Act requiring notice of the postage required to mail an absentee ballot on the envelope provided by the division of elections for returning an absentee ballot; and repealing the authority to include certain material from a political party in the election pamphlet." [Before the committee was the proposed committee substitute (CS), Version 29-LS0091\E, Bullard, 2/3/15, which was adopted by the committee as a work draft on 2/5/15.] CHAIR LYNN, as joint prime sponsor, presented HB 13. He said the official election pamphlet: helps inform voters; allows candidates to public office to display their photo, a short biography, and their position statement; and provides information on ballot initiatives, "pro" and "con" statements, and judicial retention. He said people do not vote for political parties, yet the current election pamphlet allows advertisement from political parties, which is an open invitation for attack advertisements ("ads") on any candidate or issue on the ballot. He warned that without change, the attacks would escalate "as one party tries to outdo the other." He opined that the election pamphlet is no place for political parties to advertise, and there is no shortage of venues in which those parties can place ads. He asked the committee for its support for HB 13. 8:11:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to report CSHB 13, Version 29- LS0091\E, Bullard, 2/3/15, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 8:11:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER objected to state that he does not find the political ads in the election pamphlet inappropriate. He then removed his objection. 8:12:08 AM CHAIR LYNN announced there being no further objection, CSHB 13(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. HB 1-STATE ARCTIC POLICY  8:12:17 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 1, "An Act declaring the Arctic policy of the state." [Before the committee was CSHB 1(EDA).] 8:12:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 1. He said the legislature created the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) in the spring of 2012, via House Concurrent Resolution 23, and the mandate was to release a final report on January 30, 2015, and introduce a bill stating Alaska's Arctic policy. He noted that [HB 1] had been through one committee of referral. He relayed that the products released on January 30 were: a final report, an executive summary, and an implementation plan. Representative Herron stated that HB 1 meets the statutory requirement of introducing an Arctic policy bill for the legislature to consider. He said it was pre-filed and was a product of the AAPC, following two years of vigorous dialog. He said Section 1 is legislative intent, while Section 2 would "go into the blue books." Representative Herron stated that HB 1 would put Alaskans first, strengthen the state's position with the federal government and other Arctic nations, and lead to economic betterment in Alaska's Arctic region. 8:14:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON noted that his staff was available to offer a sectional analysis of HB 1. Further, he said Nils Andreassen, an AAPC member and executive director of Institute of the North, and Dr. Butler were available for questions. 8:15:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON highlighted the four important elements of Alaska's Arctic policy under HB 1, which read as follows [from the sponsor statement, original punctuation provided]: 1) Uphold the state's commitment to economically vibrant communities while maintaining a healthy environment; 2) Collaborate with all appropriate entities to achieve transparent and inclusive Arctic decision- making; 3) Enhance Alaska's security by strengthening Arctic safety; and 4) Value and strengthen the resilience of arctic communities and respect & integrate the culture and knowledge of Arctic peoples. CHAIR LYNN said he would like a sectional analysis. 8:16:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER mentioned [the declaration of state Arctic policy, beginning on page 2, line 25], and he asked if, by supporting HB 1, he would be "throwing away ... some kind of responsibility in the sense of constructive criticism." REPRESENTATIVE HERRON responded that he does not think so. He said this is a starting point to Alaska's Arctic policy and it has to evolve. For example, he said there may be strategies that become available that Alaska may want to adopt. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked for a summary of the strategic recommendations of the implementation plan developed by the AAPC, so he could better understand what he was being asked to support. He said he was aware that the committee packet included an implementation plan booklet. He emphasized that he appreciated Representative Herron's work on the commission. 8:20:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON responded that the implementation plan is a valuable part of the report because it gives recommendations with justifications. He said the commission explains who should be the lead, the governor, someone in a department, or the legislature, describes the resources needed, and has "an execution." This is followed by legislative action and an evaluation. He said an individual legislator or the legislature can take on the recommendation and see if it can work, but another option is for the legislature to wait and not do anything. He stated, "That's what I believe is valuable with this." He said disagreement is expected. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said the legislature should "think Arctic," because it is the only state in the country that is Arctic. He stated that the legislature has had to learn about the Arctic, and he thinks there was a shared fear among members of the Northern Waters Task Force that "things were happening around us without us being involved ... in the decision making." The second audience to which the commission was making recommendations was the executive branch. The commission was also making recommendations to the federal government to work with Alaska rather than "treating us like a junior partner." He told Representative Keller that the issue was looking at all the recommendations as a starting point but not agreeing with them all. He said work would be done to ensure that the state's Arctic policy works for everyone in the state. 8:24:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER responded that he had heard it said, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu." He emphasized the criticalness of Alaska's involvement with Arctic policy. 8:25:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON relayed that he had been criticized by some of the comments that he made over the last few years and explained he is skeptical of Alaska's federal partners. However, he said he felt that the legislature wants to be involved in Arctic decisions. He said he advocated kicking the door in and inviting Alaska where it had not been invited instead of letting others decide the future of Alaska. He said he knew there was not a person present who did not agree that Alaska must be involved. He said strategy has been combined to aim for success, but "it's a living document," and this and future legislatures must evolve with federal partners in terms of Arctic policy. 8:27:06 AM CHAIR LYNN directed attention to page 1, line 13, which read as follows: "residents of the state recognize the risks that come with climate variability". He asked if that was a politically correct term for global warming. 8:27:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answered there are three [terms]: global warming, changing climate, and climate change. He said there were two camps in the commission. One said the term should be "changing climate," while the other said it should be "climate change." He said as a co-chair he made a strategic decision that "for every change in climate we're going to have a reference to climate change, too." CHAIR LYNN said there is hot debate over whether there is such a thing as global warming or climate change. He recognized that there have been changes in climate, both warmer and colder. He said he does not want to get involved in that controversy, because there have been climate changes since creation. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said a Senator on the commission remarked that the climate has been changing for eons. He reiterated that for every reference there would be an opposite reference. 8:29:21 AM CHAIR LYNN indicated that the sponsor had mentioned the state's long-time support for the Law of the Sea Treaty. He offered his understanding that the legislature had passed legislation regarding the treaty a few years ago. He asked, "Would that document the term 'long-term'?" REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said he does not know how many times "we've passed a resolution," but said that "we made sure that it ... wasn't unanimous." He said there are several legislatures that support not ratifying [the Law of the Sea Treaty]; however, more support ratification than do not. 8:30:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said he would not object to moving the bill; however, he said he is of the minority that voted against the Law of the Sea Treaty. He explained his vote was because of the obligation it may put us under in the context of international courts. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON replied that "we recognize that." He indicated that it may be some time before the Law of the Sea Treaty is ratified. He said, the provision you talk about is well chronicled. He said he thinks what has been learned over the last couple years is that the U.S. Senate should take a careful look at it. He stated his belief that the treaty strengthens our sovereignty on the open sea, but said he fully recognizes that the United Nations mining law provision is "unfortunate." He said it would take 67 Senators to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty. He questioned whether Alaska's extending continental shelf would come under attack from others, if "we" become entrenched in not ratifying the treaty. He reemphasized the importance of recognizing the support but also recognizing it is not unanimous. 8:33:41 AM CHAIR LYNN offered his understanding that President Ronald Reagan had opposed the Law of the Sea Treaty, but one of the President Bushes supported it, even though those two Presidents were of the same political party. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said President Reagan was initially opposed to the treaty, but when he got the amendments he desired, he endorsed the treaty. 8:34:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG opined that the proposed legislation does not emphasize the importance of the Law of the Sea Treaty. He offered his understanding that the record would show that the legislature had passed two resolutions supporting the treaty. Further, he said he thinks the record would show that a strong majority of the U.S. Senate has traditionally supported it. He recognized that Senator Lisa Murkowski had led the way for that support. He posited that it is important that "we recognize the importance of that to the country and to the state of Alaska." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG expressed concern that the proposed legislation does not address important environmental issues sufficiently. One example he gave was regarding the significant impact mankind has had on global warming, the effects of which he said have been seen in Alaska and with the polar ice cap. He said he would like to see the bill strengthened to have more protection of the environment. He said he supports the work that the AAPC has done thus far. 8:36:14 AM CHAIR LYNN said the proposed legislation is about the AAPC, not about what causes global warming. He added that he does not think he would like to see the discussion focus on the global warming debate. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG opined the fact that the proposed bill language does not say more is, in itself, a policy statement. 8:37:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON responded first to issue of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which he reiterated is well-chronicled. He opined that a memorandum from the legislature to the U.S. Senate - reflecting that although not unanimous, there has been support for ratification - is sufficient. Regarding the environment, he said there is a strong statement on page 3, line 5, which read as follows: (D) sustain current, and develop new, approaches for responding to a changing climate, and adapt to the challenges of coastal erosion, permafrost melt, and ocean acidification; REPRESENTATIVE HERRON indicated that the commission wanted to emphasize the importance of adapting to survival. He said the commission believes that in the codified portion of the proposed legislation, it was succinct in listing those things that are important to Arctic policy; however, it did not want the policy to be "so heavy in any one place." 8:40:36 AM NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Institute of the North; Member, Alaska Arctic Policy Commission, expressed his appreciation to the sponsor for bringing forward HB 1. He said he thought the sponsor had described the balance that was struck in focusing on the Arctic for the benefit of Alaskans. Further, he remarked that the questions of the committee thus far had highlighted the different elements of that balance. He said this speaks to the careful negotiations within the commission. MR. ANDREASSEN named four elements of the proposed legislation: economic development, necessity for collaboration and cooperation, healthy communities, and healthy environment. He said all these elements together provide prosperity and success for Alaska. Regarding the issue of climate change and changing climate, he said the proposed legislation "has emphasized our response to such a change and not attributed any causation to it." He indicated that the commission focuses on how to prepare for issues that will affect Alaskans. He said the implementation plan provides options regarding climate change. MR. ANDREASSEN stated that the proposed legislation highlights the state's past support for and continued efforts around the Law of the Sea Treaty. He said there was a lot of deliberation regarding the treaty and notes from prior meetings show that the state wants results as it moves forward in pushing the federal government toward ratification. He said the final report highlights some of those issues. He opined that the commission felt strongly that Alaska's policy legislation should not be solely about what the federal government should do, but focus more on meeting the needs of Alaska. In the same way, the bill is not only about environmental change or protection, but highlights the state's guarding of both. He said the recommendation plan states a number of recommendations for supporting environmental protection and conservation access issues. 8:44:19 AM MR. ANDREASSEN emphasized that a "yes" vote on HB 1 would not commit the person voting to the implementation plan, because the plan is a "suite of options for future action." He stated, "To the extent that you're interested in any of these issues - singularly or as a whole - you're able to draw from the implementation plan and move an issue forward." He said action could occur from the legislature, from state agencies, and from the business community within the next two years. He said moving the proposed legislation forward would send a strong signal that the State of Alaska is interested in taking a leadership role in the Arctic and seeing changes benefit the state, with state consultation at the forefront. 8:45:20 AM CHAIR LYNN said there would be an upcoming sectional analysis. 8:45:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON, in response to Representative Gruenberg, said the issue of subsistence is addressed on page 4, line 12. He said subsistence is one of the topics the commission decided should be covered under Alaska's Arctic policy. He said, "It recognizes the indigenous people, all our unique relationship to the environment, and traditional ... way of life for food security." He recollected, as a legislative staffer in 1987, hearing people question in frustration why someone who is having difficulty living in a certain part of the state doesn't just move to Anchorage. He said he knows that "everyone at the table is invested in their community." People have homes, businesses, families, and a connection to the land in which they live. He said the aforementioned language says more than its few lines may suggest; it says a lot of things about all Alaskans and emphasizes how important being in Alaska is. 8:48:34 AM CHAIR LYNN said "we" don't want this or any other bill to damage the indigenous people of Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON indicated that that should also include those who may not be indigenous, but were born in Alaska. 8:48:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if the items in HB 1 were listed in order of priority. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answer no, they are all "number ones." 8:49:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS noted that the value of the culture and knowledge of Arctic people is recognized in the proposed legislation. He expressed his desire to see Native languages recognized, as well. 8:50:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said he would not object, and he ventured that would be an important addition. 8:51:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked, "Did the commission consider this question?" Further, he questioned whether the commission was open to "other things." REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answered that during strategic planning, everyone on the commission offered up many ideas that were discussed, and then the commission narrowed down those ideas. He recollected that the language of indigenous people was one of the topics considered, but it got incorporated into "recognize Arctic indigenous people's cultures". 8:52:49 AM ROB EARL, Staff, Representative Bob Herron, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Herron, prime sponsor, offered a sectional analysis on HB 1. He stated that in Section 1, there are eight findings and four statements of intent. He highlighted the following: the third finding, which states that Alaskans are Arctic experts; the sixth finding, which states that respect for indigenous peoples is critical to understanding the Arctic; the eighth finding, which states that Alaska should create and maintain an official body to further develop Arctic strategies and policies, which has already occurred; and the third statement of intent, which states that the Arctic policy would serve as a guide for the implementation policy. 8:54:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, regarding Arctic policy of the state, observed that the bill references the wishes of residents. He asked if the commission had considered what would be in the best interest of Alaska as "a continuing geographic and ecosystem throughout the ages." CHAIR LYNN said he assumed consideration had been given for future generations. 8:56:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON stated that the intent of the Arctic policy would be to help future generations and the environment. He added, "Probably woven into that is we don't want to be treated like a colony." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked about people who are not residents of the state but have a real interest in what goes on in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON ventured that the end result would be favorable to all parties. He said Alaska is part of a nation that would share in the benefits from Alaska's resources; however, he reiterated that Alaska should not be used as a colony where resources are extracted with nothing left behind. He said the commission wants to see a healthy state that will continue to flourish. 8:58:32 AM MR. EARL continued with the sectional analysis. He directed attention to Section 2, and reviewed that paragraph (1) speaks to economically vibrant communities and a healthy environment, which includes ensuring local benefits shown under subparagraph (A). He highlighted subparagraph (C), regarding the attracting of investments, and subparagraph [(F)], which speaks to maintaining a strong fisheries industry. He pointed out paragraph (3), which lists the enhancement of security in [Alaska's Arctic region], including the increased safety of marine transportation and the increased presence of the United States Coast Guard, as shown under subparagraphs (B) and (D), respectively. He returned to language to which the bill sponsor had brought attention, regarding the recognition of Arctic indigenous people's cultures and relationship to the environment. MR. EARL directed attention to language beginning on page 4, line 26, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: (b) It is important to the state, as it relates to the Arctic, to support the strategic recommendations of the implementation plan developed by the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission and to encourage consideration of recommendations developed by the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. Priority lines of effort for the Arctic policy of the state include (1) promoting economic and resource development; (2) addressing the infrastructure and response capacity gap in order to support the Arctic region; (3) supporting healthy communities; and (4) supporting existing and fostering new science and research that aligns with state priorities for the Arctic. MR. EARL directed attention to page 5, lines 6-10, which define the meaning of Arctic, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: (c) In this section, "Arctic" means the area of the state north of the Arctic Circle, north and west of the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers, all contiguous seas, including the Arctic Ocean, and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas, and the Aleutian Chain, except that, for the purpose of international Arctic policy, "Arctic" means the entirety of the state. MR. EARL said after much discussion, the commission decided to "align the boundary with the federal definition," which was determined through federal legislation in 1984. 9:00:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked where that federal definition was determined. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON offered his understanding that President Eisenhower had been against "the entire state being a state." He said President Eisenhower had felt that anything north and west of Porcupine, Yukon, Kuskokwim - "PYK line" - could not support itself, while anything south of that had already proved it could. He said Bob Atwood, John Butrovich, and Walter Hickel visited President Eisenhower to explain how his thought process was flawed, and they and others convinced the President not to bisect Alaska. Representative Herron said history has shown that the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea are important to each other. He concluded, "That's why the definition came - because of that debate in the '50s." 9:03:08 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, regarding the bill sponsor's having said that all the items in the bill have number one priority, directed attention to page 4, line 29, which refers to "priority lines of effort". He asked specifically if the four items [language provided previously] are truly equal in priority. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON confirmed that is correct. 9:04:15 AM CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony. 9:04:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said he was ready to make a motion to move HB 1 out of committee. 9:04:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS moved to adopt Amendment 1, to insert the following language on page 4, line 26: "document and revitalize languages of Arctic indigenous peoples". He added that it would be "in keeping with the theme of that section." REPRESENTATIVE KELLER objected for the purpose of discussion. He asked Representative Kreiss-Tomkins exactly where the proposed language would be added. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS reiterated page 4, line 26. 9:06:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if the proposed Amendment 1 was conceptual. 9:06:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked to hear from the bill sponsor how Amendment 1 might fit. 9:07:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked if the proposed amendment might have been intended for page 4, lines 12-15. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS explained that he had thought the proposed amendment could be "a new point"; however, he said he could see the logic of moving it into the language on lines 12- 15. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON reiterated that after discussion, the commission had incorporated Native languages into "indigenous peoples' cultures"; however, he said if it was the will of the committee to add reference specifically to Native languages, then he would recommend it be added to [subparagraph (A)], on page 4, lines 12-15. He reemphasized that the Arctic means the entire state of Alaska; therefore, it should not be Arctic indigenous languages, but should be indigenous languages of the residents of Alaska. 9:09:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he thought the language in Section 2, subsection (c), on page 5, lines 6-10, [text provided previously], seemed to state the opposite of what the bill sponsor just stated. He offered his understanding that Amendment 1 was "not just international." He suggested a conforming amendment may be necessary "to make sure that ... that's covered within this definition." 9:10:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS, in response to Representative Gruenberg, confirmed that the proposed amendment was conceptual. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG reviewed the concept of a conceptual amendment. 9:11:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON suggest that Amendment 1 be withdrawn, and he said he would sponsor an amendment on the House floor to "take care of this." 9:12:41 AM CHAIR LYNN said he was not sure this was germane to the proposed legislation. 9:12:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER directed attention to language on page 2, beginning on line 25, which he noted was a declaration of state Arctic policy. He then directed attention to subsection (4), on page 4, line [10], which states that the policy is to "value and strengthen the resilience of communities and respect and integrate the culture and knowledge of Arctic peoples", following which he noted were five [subparagraphs]. He opined that "it is germane in that section" but would not be elsewhere. He expressed uncertainty over the use of the term "document" in Amendment 1, because "using that term may push the edges of this." He indicated that he had no problem with acknowledging the value of indigenous languages in the context of the appreciation of the culture and knowledge of the Arctic people. 9:14:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he would like to withdraw Amendment 1, and he concurred with the bill sponsor's suggestion regarding moving forward with HB 1. He expressed willingness to work with the sponsor and any other interested legislators to come up with something (indisc. -- overlapping voices). CHAIR LYNN stated his intent had been to move HB 1 out of committee, but said if it was the will of the committee, the proposed legislation could be heard again at a future date. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS offered his understanding that the sponsor had talked about the potential for an amendment made on the House floor. 9:14:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER opined that [amending the bill] was the work of the committee. 9:15:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG concurred with Representative Keller and indicated that although the House Rules Standing Committee, as the next committee of referral, could amend the bill, the House State Affairs Standing Committee was "really more set up to do this." CHAIR LYNN asked for the recommendation of the bill sponsor. 9:15:41 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON replied that even though the definition of "Arctic" on page 5, [lines 6-10], was accurate, he could not emphasize enough that "you can't separate Alaska from the Arctic." He said if the proposed bill was amended to recognize Alaska indigenous languages, it should recognize all of them, not just some of them. He said he would like the others on the commission to consider such an amendment, but he recognized there may be a need to hold the bill over for another hearing. He reiterated that the bill already recognizes indigenous peoples' cultures, and one of the foundations of culture is language. In response to Chair Lynn, he said his recommendation would be to withdraw Amendment 1. 9:18:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS withdrew his motion to adopt Amendment 1. 9:18:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER reiterated he was ready to make a motion. 9:18:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Representative Herron to clarify what he thought about [the withdrawn] Amendment 1. 9:18:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON reiterated that he and his four other colleagues should have a conversation with [Representative Kreiss-Tomkins] to confirm or not confirm whether the term "indigenous culture" includes indigenous language. He concurred that committee work should not be done on the House floor. He said he thought the Senate "should have that discussion, as well." He said that is why he had asked for the amendment to be withdrawn. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested either the House State Affairs Standing Committee address the language at its next meeting, after the bill sponsor had had a chance to confer with his colleagues, or that "we put the amendment in and you can take it out." REPRESENTATIVE HERRON responded on Representative Gruenberg's second point that that is not how he likes to do business. He reiterated that the commission believes that indigenous language is included when speaking of culture. 9:20:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 1(EDA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 1(EDA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 9:21:55 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:22 a.m.