Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/09/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB149 | |
| SB61 | |
| SB99 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 149 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 61-MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM
2:04:44 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of SB 61. "An Act
establishing a museum construction grant program in the
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development."
She noted the new fiscal note.
2:05:05 PM
DOUG LETCH, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, introduced SB 61 on
behalf of the sponsor. He noted that this is companion
legislation to HB 52. He spoke to the following sponsor
statement:
Senate Bill 61 establishes a matching grant program in
the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development for eligible museum construction,
expansion, and major renovation projects. Language in
the bill is similar to the existing program for
libraries.
Under provisions of SB 61
• A person in charge of construction, expansion, or
major renovation of an eligible museum may apply to
the department for matching funds under regulations
adopted by the department.
• Subject to appropriation, the department would award
not more than 50 percent of the total proposed grant
project costs to an eligible applicant.
• Museums are eligible for this program if they are
located in Alaska, entitled to receive state grant
funds, and provide matching funds from other sources
of at least 50 percent of the cost of the project.
Alaska is home to more than 60 museums and cultural
centers, located in more than 30 communities of
various sizes around the state. These facilities
connect our past to our future through stewardship of
local material, culture and history, while educating
Alaskans and visitors of all ages. Many also serve as
focal points for community life, providing a place for
neighbors to connect, collaborate, and strengthen
their sense of self and environment.
More than half of these museums anticipate undertaking
major capital improvement projects in the next five
years. Passage of Senate Bill 61 and any accompanying
appropriations will help them continue their important
work.
MR. LETCH said the sponsor is aware of the new fiscal note and
anticipates a committee substitute to coordinate SB 61 with the
companion legislation and reduce the fiscal note to zero.
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony.
2:08:19 PM
JAMES BROOKS, board member, Alaska Historical Society, Juneau,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 61. He explained that he
enjoys traveling throughout the state and always tries to stop
in local museums. Many of these museums were built in 1967, the
centennial of Alaska's purchase, and haven't been updated since
then. SB 61 will make the updates happen. Everyone is a part of
history and the museums in this state do a good job of
preserving that history, he said.
2:09:37 PM
KATHERINE ELDEMAR, Director, Division of Community and Regional
Affairs (DCRA), Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED), testified to the role DCRA plays in the
grant program paraphrasing from a prepared statement, which
reads as follows:
DCRA administers over $2 billion dollars in federal,
legislative, and state grants. DCRA grant
administrators are located in Juneau, Anchorage, and
Fairbanks and each grant administrator is responsible
for approximately 250 grants.
Should SB 61 become law, DCRA will be responsible for
the Museum Grant Program. It might appear that SB 61
would not have a fiscal impact on DCRA because
currently there is no grant funding attached to the
bill, but that presumption would be inaccurate.
Assuming SB 61 becomes law, DCRA foresees the impacts
to the Division will be similar to those experienced
when the Library Grant Program was created because the
two programs are statutorily similar. For instance,
DCRA will be required to create regulations for the
Museum Construction Grant Program. The creation of
regulations requires a number of procedural steps,
which includes public notice, and typically takes about
a year to complete.
Additionally, communities submitted grant applications
for their projects to DCRA for consideration despite
the lack of available funding. There is an effect in
that communities want to secure their place in the
queue for when funding does become available. DCRA
processed the applications and also rated the
applications. The applicants were then notified of
DCRA's rating of their application. However, since
there were no funds to award, DCRA was placed in the
unusual position of having completed its duties, but
despite all the efforts, no grant awards. It's
anticipated SB 61 for museums would likely result in
similar impacts to DCRA as was experienced with
libraries.
This red binder I am showing you is an actual library
grant request. As you can see the paperwork is
significant. This does not represent an award and
subsequent monitoring, which may take additional years
to complete. The work DCRA grant administrators must
complete is real. The grant application costs to
review, oversee, and store grant applications are real
- the impacts to DCRA are real.
DCRA has thus submitted its fiscal note to SB 61 to
help you, the decision makers, make the tough calls as
to where state money will be spent during these
challenging budget times. If SB 61 becomes law we ask
the legislature to fund DCRA sufficiently so we can
professionally assist our Alaskan communities with
their museum endeavors. The ability to absorb
additional programs has been curtailed by the
reductions in positions that are ongoing.
The expansion of the definition of museum under SB 61
is exciting. This expansion of the definition of museum
opens the door for many which were previously closed,
to showcase their wonderful and unique communities.
But, as with most things, it does take funding. DCRA
asks that if the legislature passes this bill that it
provide the staffing necessary for DCRA to be
successful in its administration.
MS. ELDEMAR explained that the language in the committee
substitute for the companion bill results in a zero fiscal note.
The amended language reads as follows:
The department may not accept an application for a
grant under this section unless the legislature makes
an appropriation for the grant program.
She explained that the intent of the foregoing language is
twofold. First, it allows the department to promulgate the rules
to put the regulations in place. More importantly, it will keep
the department from having to do the paperwork associated with a
grant application and administration until the funding becomes
available. She asked the sponsor to consider the same language
so the department could submit a zero fiscal note.
2:14:19 PM
FRED PARADY, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED), highlighted that the
department agreed to absorb the workload of promulgating
regulations in order to reach resolution of the fiscal note on
the companion bill to SB 61.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the museums would be prioritized
according to need and if the department would do that work.
MS. ELDEMAR explained that the applications are rated as they
come in and follow a hierarchy thereafter. Of the applications
that qualify, some will have matching dollars while some will
not. She deferred further explanation to Ms. Davis.
2:15:54 PM
JANET DAVIS, Grants Manager, Division of Community and Regional
Affairs (DCRA), Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED), Fairbanks, Alaska, added that a DCRA
application selection committee scores each application based on
the project description, impact to the community, the budget,
and the museum's administration and project management
abilities. The scores are averaged and the application is given
a rating and then forwarded to the commissioner's office. If
funding is available, the grants are awarded based on the
applicant's rating.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Mr. Parady if the match funding model had
been successful in other infrastructure projects.
MR. PARADY answered yes; it is a good way to leverage resources
to get something done.
SENATOR MEYER asked if amending the bill to zero the fiscal note
would do away with the position that's referenced.
MR. PARADY answered yes. Applications would not be accepted and
handled until money was appropriated.
SENATOR MEYER asked if the position would be needed if money was
appropriated.
MR. PARADY said that question hasn't been resolved, but it would
be addressed once an appropriation was considered. Responding to
a further question, he relayed that the 1,929 grants that are
open in the department represent a five-year cycle.
2:21:06 PM
PATRICIA RELAY, Executive Director, Valdez Museum and Historical
Archive, Valdez, Alaska, testified in support of SB 61,
paraphrasing from the following prepared statement:
With nearly 20,000 visitors to the Valdez Museum each
year, the Museum is grounded in a strong sense of
responsibility to contributing to the regions
educational and economic development. We:
· Provide opportunities for education and learning.
· Contribute to the development of our community.
· Build human capital through building social
networks.
· Attract tourist to the area, stimulating the
economy and creating employment.
Determining the economic impact includes a number of
categories including the Museum's annual operating
budget. Visitors and tourist spending combined with tax
revenue and local jobs equals the total economic
impact. Applying this formula, the Valdez Museum's
economic impact on the local community is $1,180,900.
The educational impact is equally impressive. Last year
our education and public programs served 3,750 people,
which includes public and private schools, outreach to
remote areas, and adult learners. We have become known
as a classroom for private and homeschool groups.
The Valdez Museum has accomplished a lot within the
past few years: incorporating a successful expanded
range of programming, increasing its visitation, and
raising its standards of collection management. Despite
these achievements, the institution is now at a point
in which its progress is being hampered by limitations
of space.
The Valdez Museum has accomplished a lot within the
past few years: incorporating a successful expanded
range of programming, increasing its visitation, and
raising its standards of collection management. Despite
these achievements, the institution is now at a point
in which its progress is being hampered by limitations
of space.
As a matter of fact, our educational programs have
become so successful that we no longer have space to
conduct classes and workshops. Last summer we used a
tent on the front lawn.
The Valdez Museum functions as a place of ideas and
education. It is a natural gathering place that helps
build and strengthen inter-connections within the
family units and within the community at large.
I urge you to support SB 61, establishing a museum
construction grant program, so that museums throughout
the state of Alaska may continue to serve their
communities. Help us make this bill a reality!
2:24:38 PM
ANJULI GRANTHAM, Curator of Collections and Exhibits, Baranov
Museum, Kodiak, Alaska, testified in support of SB 61. She
reported that the Baranov Museum was founded in 1967 to
commemorate the centennial of the Alaska purchase. Following the
1964 earthquake and tsunami that washed out much of Kodiak, the
citizens rallied to save the Erskine House from demolition.
Using grant funds from the centennial celebration, they restored
the building and opened it as the Baranov Museum. This building
is the oldest building in Alaska; it was constructed in 1808 by
the Russian American Company.
MS. GRANTHAM said the community has worked hard to preserve and
maintain this historic landmark over the past 50 years. Storage
is inadequate and the stairs are so steep some people have to go
down backwards, but they wouldn't consider major alterations
because it would signify a major loss to the history of Alaska.
SB 61 matters because it allows museums and historic buildings
to leverage funds to do major preservation work in tune with
best practices and historic preservation. Each museum is unique
and SB 61 recognizes this and provides a framework to allow many
different institutions to enhance the care of their collections
and better educate visitors. For the Baranov Museum, the bill
will help to preserve the last physical remnants of Russian
colonization in Alaska. She concluded saying that SB 61 will
provide a wonderful opportunity to make Alaska's history and
culture shine in time for the 150th anniversary of the purchase
of Alaska.
2:27:08 PM
MICHELE MILLER, Member, Pratt Museum Board of Directors, Homer
Alaska, testified in support of SB 61, paraphrasing from the
following prepared statement:
The Pratt Museum is an anchor institution on the Kenai
Peninsula:
- educating children and adults
- contributing to our community's sense of place and
identity through history, art, and culture.
Like museums all over Alaska, the Pratt contributes to
the state's economy through employment and cultural
tourism.
Thank you, Senator Stevens for sponsorship of SB 61:
- provides structure for establishing a system for
prioritizing museum capital project funding requests in
Alaska
- following the state's model for library construction
projects
Even without immediate appropriations into the fund,
the mechanism created by SB 61 can provide:
- a solid ranking of capital projects
- aid in legislative decision-making during the capital
budget process
This is currently the case with the library program (AS
14.56.355-56):
- has helped build 14 new libraries through $50 million
of awards.
This legislation will allow museums to plan to protect
valuable collections well into the future.
With the passage of this legislation into law,
construction projects will be:
- funded by the merits of their projects and
- prioritized by their ability to match state funding,
and where they are in the construction process
Again, I thank Senator Stevens for his sponsorship of
Senate Bill 61 and thank you to this committee.
HOW THE LIBRARY PROCESS WORKED: AKLA developed the
matrix that vetted a construction project for shovel
readiness. The matrix was/is held by AKLA. The
libraries were in consensus on which project(s) would
be put forward for funding. The matrix required
appropriates pre-development planning, including going
through CAPSIS. AKLA had the candidates ready to
advance when the grant opportunity came forward. DCCED
could then review the grant and match it to AKLAs
matrix. Because the libraries worked together as they
prepared for their shovel-ready project, legislators,
funders, & the DCCED knew that the projects were ready
and would be successful and excellent credibility
was developed.
2:29:34 PM
BETHANY BUCKINGHAM-FOLLETT, Curator, Dorothy G. Page Museum,
Wasilla, Alaska, testified in support of SB 61, paraphrasing
from the following written statement:
The Mat-Su is the fastest growing area in the state.
Economic development and a healthy community are on the
minds of all in our area. The current museum building
was built in 1931 as Wasilla's Community Hall. We honor
that history and heritage by continuing to offer
community programs including Wednesday Nights at the
Museum, traveling exhibits, and providing a space for
visitors to learn about Alaska. Through our programs
and exhibits, we infuse history and culture into a
learning experience our visitors take with them
throughout their lives.
Children who come on school tours bring their families
and friends to enjoy the museum. Watching the
connection from classroom learning to real world
application at the museum, you see the students become
the teachers; sharing what they have learned and what
they know with their families and friends. Visitors
come and learn about Dog Mushing, Gold Mining and
Homesteading, not only of the Mat-Su but all of Alaska.
As we strive to meet the growing needs of our audience,
we find we have the opportunity to expand not only our
programs, but our space to host those programs. For a
Community Hall built for a town of about 100, we find
we are bursting at the seams hosting events for
visitors numbering 500 or more. We are in need of more
space and updated technology. SB 61 is critical to our
museum buildings and programming as we move towards
celebrating 150 years of Alaskan history and the future
of our communities. We currently host 700 third grade
students each year and are projected to be serving
close to 2100 students in three years.
Senate Bill 61 is important to our museum and all
museums around the state. This is an opportunity for
Alaskan museums to create a healthy environment for
patrons to learn about the community and the world
around them. This would be completed through renovation
and restoration of our current buildings. SB 61
provides the framework for Alaskans to support Museums
and preserve our heritage.
2:32:44 PM
EVA MALVICH, Director/Curator, Yupiit Piciryarait Museum,
Bethel, Alaska, testified in support of SB 61, stating the
following:
I am the Director/Curator for the Yupiit Piciryarait
Museum, a tribally run and managed museum based in
Bethel. We are the only museum based in the Yukon
Kuskokwim Delta Region and we support SB 6, the
enabling legislation to support construction or
renovation of museums and cultural centers around the
state.
Our area is home to Yup'ik and Cup'ik Eskimos and
Athabaskan Indians. We have lived here for a millennia
and our museum collection is full of objects showing
how we lived over time - valuable objects that are
priceless and full of information.
Please support SB 61. This enabling legislation will
allow our museum to better preserve our collection of
Alaska Native objects here in the Y-K Delta region.
The legislation will also provide our institution with
the means to protect the right environment for
priceless museum objects. Our HVAC was shut off over
13 years ago by our landlord, the Kuskokwim Campus.
And our collection of animal hides, walrus ivory, and
driftwood pieces are at risk of damage and loss. With
this enabling legislation we can finally have a means
to provide adequate services to the collection, and
with this designation we would also be eligible to
house objects that are taken out of federal lands in
our area. We would be able to take care of objects in
our own region and with more staff become a resource
for archeologists and their projects in Southwest
Alaska.
As you know, with our coastline zeroed and we know
there are historic sites in danger of becoming lost to
the Bering Sea every year, our museum is more than
just a building with walls around it. It is a valuable
resource as well for many people and institutions. For
instance, just this week I have worked with a group of
fish skin sewers who enrolled for a week-long course
in the evening at our local college. The group
represents several generations from different
backgrounds and cultural identities. The group had one
thing in common - to learn how to prepare fish skin
from scratch and to learn how to make garments,
artwork and jewelry from this art form that is part of
our cultural identity.
I was fortunate to work with two students from the
Kuskokwim Learning Academy this week - kids enrolled
in an alternative boarding school at risk of dropping
out of high school. These two young ladies are of
Cup'ik and Yup'ik. I wanted these two young ladies to
know that their culture and identity are worth
preserving, and as part owners of this museum they
need to know what we have in our collection. One of
the students found a picture of her grandfather taken
in 1962. He was a store manager at the time and she
had never seen his image before at that age. We pulled
out objects from her hometown and remarked about how
skillful the artists are and that she has every right
to be proud of her hometown and the family she is a
part of.
We talked about how I got to my role as
Curator/Director. It took me 18 years to get my master
of public administration degree - the only one in my
large family of nine to graduate from high school and
to go to college. As a mother of Yup'ik and Cup'ik
boys, I want kids to know that they can do anything
that they want to, and that nothing is out of their
reach.
The other young lady was able to relate to the objects
in our collection and remarked how her uncle is
teaching her how to make [indisc.] knives. She
marveled at the condition of the knives in our
collection, from artists that are no longer around.
And I hope she picks up the carving knife and
continues to hone her skills in carving and woodwork.
I mentioned that we are planning a walrus ivory
carving class and that I hope she joins us. I want her
to know she lives in an area rich in her Yup'ik
culture and that she has every right to be proud of
who she is.
Please support SB 61. This enabling legislation will
allow our museum to grow to meet our customers' needs.
Quyana for your time.
CHAIR COSTELLO closed public testimony and held SB 61 in
committee for further consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 2015.04.09 L&C Agenda.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
Agenda |
| HB 149 - Version A.PDF |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Version A.A.PDF |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Senate L&C Hearing Request.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM SL&C 4/14/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Fiscal Note DCCED.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am - Summary of Changes.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| HB 149 am. - Legislation Diagram.PDF |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
HB 149 |
| SB 61 - Version A.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Sectional Summary.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Support Resolution - FoJDCM.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Support Letter - Milli Martin.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Support Letter - City of Ketchikan.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Support E-mail Donner.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 61 - Resolution of Support - City of Ketchikan.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 61 |
| SB 99 - Version W.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Sectional Summary.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Title 4 Policy Brief.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Title 4 Executive Summary.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Title 4 Recommendations.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |
| SB 99 - Legislative Presentation.pdf |
SL&C 4/9/2015 1:30:00 PM |
SB 99 |