05/05/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

               HB 123-STATE RECOGNITION OF TRIBES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:36:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER announced  the consideration of HOUSE  BILL NO. 123"                                                               
An Act  providing for state  recognition of  federally recognized                                                               
tribes; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[HB 123  was previously heard  on 2/10/22, 2/15/22,  3/17/22, and                                                               
3/31/22. Public testimony was opened and closed on 2/15/22.]                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
He asked the sponsor's staff to  give a high level summary of the                                                               
bill before the committee considered amendments.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:36:33 PM                                                                                                                    
LOGAN  BASNER,  Staff,  Representative Tiffany  Zulkosky,  Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature,  Juneau,  Alaska,  stated that  HB  123  will                                                               
codify the recognition of the  209 federally recognized tribes in                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:37:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   SHOWER  moved   to  adopt   Amendment   1,  work   order,                                                               
320LS0438\A.3.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                 32-LS0438\A.3                                                                  
                                                      Wallace                                                                   
                                                      4/20/22                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE                 BY SENATOR SHOWER                                                                    
     TO:  HB 123                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 12, following "state":                                                                                        
          Insert "Passage of this Act is nothing more or                                                                        
     less than a  recognition of tribes' unique  role in the                                                                    
     state's past, present, and future."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 6, through page 3, line 4:                                                                                    
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
        "* Sec. 3. AS 01 is  amended by adding a new chapter                                                                
     to read:                                                                                                                   
              Chapter 15. State-Tribal Relations.                                                                             
          Sec. 01.15.100. Recognition of tribes. The state                                                                    
     recognizes the special  and unique relationship between                                                                    
     the United  States government and  federally recognized                                                                    
     tribes in  the state.  The state recognizes  all tribes                                                                    
     in  the state  that are  federally recognized  under 25                                                                    
     U.S.C.  5130   and  5131.   Nothing  in   this  section                                                                    
     diminishes   the  United   States  government's   trust                                                                    
     responsibility  or   other  obligations   to  federally                                                                    
     recognized tribes in the state  or creates a concurrent                                                                    
     trust  relationship  between  the state  and  federally                                                                    
     recognized   tribes.   In  this   section,   "federally                                                                    
     recognized   tribe"   has    the   meaning   given   in                                                                    
     AS 23.20.520."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:37:35 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COSTELLO objected for discussion purposes.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   SHOWER  explained   that  Amendment   1  codifies   the                                                               
recognition of these tribes' role  in Alaska's past, present, and                                                               
future. This  recognition is  moved out  of Title  44 into  a new                                                               
Sec. 01.15. He said he believes  this change is acceptable to the                                                               
bill sponsor and those who previously had articulated concerns.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLAND joined the meeting.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COSTELLO removed her objection.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER found  no further  objection, and  Amendment 1  was                                                               
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:39:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER held HB 123 in committee.