02/29/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRB)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating to  the  official  languages of  the                                                                    
     State of  Alaska; renaming  the Alaska  Native Language                                                                    
     Preservation and  Advisory Council  as the  Council for                                                                    
     Alaska Native  Languages; and  relating to  the Council                                                                    
     for Alaska Native Languages."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:34:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                     
CS HB 26(TRB), Work Draft 33-LS0266\S (Bergerud, 2/27/24).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:35:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, discussed the                                                                       
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change 1:  At the request  of the Council,  the Council                                                                    
     is  being  moved  from   the  Department  of  Commerce,                                                                    
     Community, and  Economic Development to  the Department                                                                    
     of  Education  and Early  Development.  To  do so,  the                                                                    
     current  statute   establishing  the  Council,   in  AS                                                                    
     44.33.520,   is   repealed.    Similar   language   re-                                                                    
    establishing the Council is added in AS 14.07.200.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The other changes that the  earlier version of the bill                                                                    
     was  making, which  included changing  the name  of the                                                                    
     Council, adding  two languages to the  list of official                                                                    
     language of  the state, and expanding  the Council from                                                                    
     five to seven members, remain  in the new Department of                                                                    
     Education language.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Change  2:  Adds   transition  language  ensuring  that                                                                    
     current Council  members' appointments, as well  as any                                                                    
     adopted  orders  and   regulations,  remain  in  effect                                                                    
     despite moving the council.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The staff  position providing  services to  the Council                                                                    
     does not  automatically move  to Education;  this would                                                                    
     have to be done through the budget process.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Change  3: Deletes  one sentence  in AS  44.12.320 that                                                                    
     states  the  English language  is  to  be used  in  all                                                                    
     government  functions  and  actions, because  this  has                                                                    
     been determined  to be unconstitutional and  is notated                                                                    
     as such in the statute books.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  REMOVED  his   OBJECTION.  There  being  no                                                                    
further objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR,  agreed with the changes                                                                    
within the committee substitute.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick MOVED  to  REPORT SCS  CS  HB 26(FIN)  from                                                                    
committee  with  individual  recommendations,  and  attached                                                                    
fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SCS  CSHB 26(FIN)  REPORTED out  of committee  with two  "do                                                                    
pass" recommendations, two "no  recommendations" and two new                                                                    
fiscal  notes from  the Department  of  Education and  Early                                                                    
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:39:16 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:42:08 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED