Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/2023 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB141 | |
| HB26 | |
| SB17 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 26-COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
9:05:05 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of 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."
9:05:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, District 3, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 26, introduced the legislation
paraphrasing the following:
The Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory
th
Council was created by the 27 Legislature. The
Governor appointed five voting members, who are
professional language experts and who represent
diverse regions of the state. Additionally, there are
two non-voting members. One member of the Senate,
appointed by the Senate President and one member of
the House, appointed by the Speaker. I have been
fortunate to serve as the non-voting member from the
House in the past legislature.
The Council provides recommendations and advice to
both the Governor and Legislature on programs,
policies, and projects, and to network and advocate in
support of the Council's mission. The mission is to
advocate for the survival and revitalization of Alaska
Native languages through collaboration and sharing for
all.
The bill before you, HB 26, came from the desire of
the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory
Council to do three things, which must be changed in
statute:
1. Shorten the Council name,
2. Expand its membership, and
3. Update the official languages of Alaska list to
include Indigenous languages that were left out.
The few seemingly small changes proposed in HB 26 have
significant meaning to the Council.
The bill proposes a name change, simplifying it from
the "Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory
Council" to the "Council for Alaska Native Languages."
This reflects the goal of sustaining and
reinvigorating Alaska Native languages, a concept that
goes beyond preservation. It also provides a name more
fitting for the diverse range of work that the Council
does.
Another request is to add two new members, from 5 to 7
voting members. Alaska has over 23 distinct languages,
and to be able to be inclusive of more languages the
Council feels two more members would capture a greater
perspective. Adding members allows for greater
representation on the Council and expands the
involvement to reach other regions of the state.
Finally, the bill revises the official list of
languages to include those that were unintentionally
omitted when Alaska Native languages were made co-
official languages of Alaska in 2015. The current list
of 20 Alaska Native languages included in statute is
based on a 1974 map by Dr. Michael Krauss. We now know
from research that there are at least 23 distinct,
Alaska Native languages.
I urge the committee to pass this legislation request
from the Council Gunalchéesh.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY reviewed the material in the bill packets.
9:09:21 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked Ms. Worl to present the sectional analysis.
9:09:37 AM
MIRANDA WORL, Staff, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
presented the sectional analysis for HB 26 on behalf of the
sponsor.
Sectional Analysis
House Bill 26
Section 1: Amends AS 44.12.310(a) to add Cup'ig and
Weta
(Ts'etsa'ut) as official languages of Alaska,
and divide Tanana into the Benhti Kokhwt'ana Kenaga'
(Lower Tanana) and Sahcheeg xut'een xneege' (Middle
Tanana) languages.
Section 2: Amends AS 44.33.520(a) to simplify the name
of the Council from "Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council" to "Council for
Alaska Native Languages."
Section 3: Amends AS 44.33.520(c) by changing voting
members from "five" to "seven."
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that two of the committee members heard the
bill when they served in the other body.
9:10:45 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI turned to invited testimony on HB 26. He
recognized Kay Larson-Blair and read a brief biography.
9:11:53 AM
KAY LARSON-BLAIR, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that she serves on the Alaska Native Preservation and Advisory
Council (ANPAC) and the Cultural Heritage Program Director for
the Bristol Bay Foundation. She also works with elders and
language speakers within the Togiak area of Bristol Bay. She
expressed strong support for HB 26, describing it as a critical
step forward for the state and its diverse communities and
languages. She said Alaska is home to 23 known indigenous
languages which in 2014 were designated the official languages
of Alaska. HB 26 supports language revitalization and
reclamation work and the Council for the Alaska Native Language
can play a critical role in this effort. She said it's important
to understand that there are unique dialects and variations of
each of the languages spoken in communities and regions. The
proposed changes in statute will help preserve cultural heritage
and knowledge for future generations.
MS. LARSON-BLAIR described the importance of language
preservation in combination with revitalization and reclamation.
She pointed out that educators, political leaders, religious
leaders, and the general public actively banished the use of
Native languages until very recently. She encouraged the
committee to support the bill to reflect the Council's diverse
work, its need for more than five voting members, and the
additional three languages not recognized in statute. She said
many of the languages are endangered but they could come back;
they aren't extinct, they're "sleeping." The new name for the
Council reflects its broad scope and important mission to
promote and preserve the many unique Native languages spoken
throughout the state. This will help ensure these languages
receive the support and resources they deserve.
She encouraged the committee to read the priorities the Council
passed two years ago following the governor's state of emergency
declaration. These include standardizing indigenous languages
and public education and establishing pathways for Alaska Native
language teacher certification. She suggested that all teachers
in Alaska should have knowledge of Alaska Native languages,
especially if they're teaching in the state's public schools and
they're working with Alaska Native youth. She urged the
committee to support HB 26 which will help ensure that Alaska's
diverse communities continue to thrive and the state remains a
leader in language preservation and promotion.
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no questions.
9:17:52 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no one in the room or online who wished to
testify and he closed invited and public testimony on HB 26.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
It makes small changes but they're very important to the
Council.
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion.
9:18:31 AM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report HB 26, work order 33-LS0266\B,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
9:18:46 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and CSHB 26(TRB) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
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