00                       CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 254(STA)                                                                    
01 "An Act establishing the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council                                       
02 and relating to the preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native                                      
03 languages."                                                                                                             
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                          
06 to read:                                                                                                                
07       LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that the preservation of Alaska                                       
08 Native languages is a critical component in the sustenance of cultural identity. The legislature                        
09 further finds that Alaska Native languages are the foundation of cultures and are vital in                              
10 maintaining traditional knowledge and understanding.                                                                    
11    * Sec. 2. AS 44.33 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
12        Article 7A. Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council.                                          
13            Sec. 44.33.530. Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory                                           
14       Council. (a) The Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council is                                  
01       established in the department for the purpose of recommending the establishment or                                
02       reorganization of programs to support the preservation, restoration, and revitalization                           
03       of Alaska Native languages.                                                                                     
04            (b)  The council established under this section shall                                                        
05                 (1)  advise both the governor and legislature on programs, policies, and                                
06       projects to provide for the cost-effective preservation, restoration, and revitalization of                       
07       Alaska Native languages in the state;                                                                             
08                 (2)  meet at least twice a year to carry out the purposes of the council;                               
09       members may participate in meetings telephonically; and                                                           
10                 (3)  prepare reports of its findings and recommendations for the                                        
11       governor's and the legislature's consideration on or before January 1 of each even-                               
12       numbered year.                                                                                                    
13            (c)  The governor shall appoint to the council established in this section five                              
14       voting members who represent diverse regions of the state, three of whom are                                      
15       professional Alaska Native language revitalization experts and two of whom are fluent                             
16       in an Alaska Native language and engaged in revitalization efforts. In addition, one                              
17       member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate and one member of the                               
18       house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives shall                           
19       serve on the council as nonvoting members. In appointing the nonvoting members of                                 
20       the council, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives                          
21       shall appoint a member of the bush caucus, if a bush caucus exists. In this subsection,                           
22       "bush caucus" means a group of legislators that represents rural areas of the state.                              
23            (d)  The members appointed by the governor shall serve at the pleasure of the                                
24       governor.                                                                                                         
25            (e)  Members of the council shall serve without compensation but are entitled                                
26       to per diem and travel expenses as provided under AS 39.20.180.                                                   
27    * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
28 read:                                                                                                                   
29       REPORT; APPOINTMENTS. (a) Notwithstanding AS 44.33.530(b)(3), the first                                           
30 report under AS 44.33.530(b)(3), added by sec. 2 of this Act, is due on or before July 1, 2014.                         
31       (b)  The governor shall make the appointments required by AS 44.33.530(c), added by                               
01 sec. 2 of this Act, on or before December 1, 2012.