Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| SB110 | |
| SB20 | |
| HB69 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 110 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 110-MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION GRANTS
4:28:31 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 110
"An Act establishing the museum construction and major expansion
matching grant program; and providing for an effective date."
4:28:59 PM
SALLY RAFSON, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 110 on behalf of the
sponsor. She read the following sponsor statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 110
Sponsor Statement
"An Act establishing the museum construction and major
expansion matching grant program; and providing for
an effective date."
Alaska has a rich culture and history that is worth
being shared with both residents and visitors to our
state. Museums are instrumental in sharing our history
and preserving our culture. A fund already exists in
statute under AS 14.56.355 that provides grant
funding to libraries; if enacted, SB 110 would
create a similar fund to aid museums around the
state in their growth and revitalization.
Not only do museums play a vital role in educating the
public about our history, they also act as a gathering
places for the community and contribute to our
economy. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the
American Alliance of Museums, surveyed museums of
Alaska had a financial impact of $114 million on the
economy and served over 22,000 K-12 students.
According to the American Alliance of Museums, museums
and other nonprofit cultural organizations return more
an $5 in tax revenues for every $1 they receive in
funding from all levels of government.
Many precious cultural artifacts are waiting to be
displayed in buildings that need repairs and
infrastructure updates. To adequately store and
display current and future artifacts, museums need
funding opportunities to do so. Alaska has over 100
museums and cultural centers located throughout the
state. Recent surveys have shown that more than half
of Alaska's museums and cultural centers anticipate
undertaking major capital improvement projects in the
next five years. I urge your support of SB 110 in
order to help make such projects possible.
4:31:10 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated that Alaska has done a remarkable job
with libraries. He attributed that to the legislature having the
library association maintain a list of project priorities in
need of funding. He asked whether a similar organization exists
for museums.
4:31:55 PM
MS. RAFSON suggested the Director of Museums Alaska answer the
question.
4:32:16 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked if a museum must do all of the items listed
in the major expansion plan outlined in SB 110 in order to
qualify for a grant.
MS. RAFSON stated her belief that in order to qualify for a
grant a museum would only need to do one item. She suggested
other testifiers could elaborate.
4:33:02 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said he would like clarification.
MS. RAFSON said testifiers would discuss the projects for their
museums.
4:33:37 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 110.
4:34:01 PM
DIXIE CLOUGH, Director, Museums Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified by invitation on SB 110. She said many of Alaska's
museums are located in "hand-me-down" buildings that present
various problems. She said about 66 percent of museums have
plans for infrastructure projects or rebuilds. Alaska Native
tribes have plans for about 10 new museums or cultural centers.
There are also plans to create children's museums. There is no
unbiased mechanism to fund museums. Funding currently occurs
through the Capital Project Submission and Information System
(CAPSIS) which requires support from the legislature and can be
vetoed by the governor. Having a matching grant program makes
the process efficient, transparent and equitable because a panel
would decide project funding based on a score mechanism.
4:36:01 PM
MS. CLOUGH discussed amendments attached to her support letter
which included:
• Adding "Major Renovation" to the title and anywhere in the
bill that says, "construction and expansion."
• Removing the list that specifies projects as it may create
unnecessary limitations of grant use.
• Change the eligibility criteria from 20 percent to 50 percent
matching funds.
4:37:05 PM
MS. CLOUGH said the library matching grant fund exists in statue
only. She said as far as she is aware a program for the fund has
not been created.
4:37:56 PM
EMILY EDENSHAW, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alaska
Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SB 110. The Native Heritage Center has operated
for 20 years. Alaska does not spend any money on cultural
tourism which matters because museums are places of learning and
allow people to connect with who they are. She mentioned that
marketing dollars primarily help businesses. The Native Heritage
Center has a responsibility to work with every Native cultural
group in Alaska, but it is difficult to keep up. Native
organizations have reached out to her stating they want to offer
cultural centers in their communities. She said this is the
third time a bill requesting support for museums has come before
the legislature. Museums throughout Alaska are underfunded and
SB 110 is a chance to right that wrong.
4:42:21 PM
ANGELA LINN, Senior Collections Manager, University of Alaska
Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation
on SB 110. She stated that she represents her own opinions and
not the University of Alaska. The Museum of the North was
renovated and expanded 20 years ago through a combination of
private, state, and federal funds. The building, however, was
built in the 1980's and has maintenance and expansion needs. She
expounded on the number and types of artifacts in the museum's
collection to illustrate the need for funding and preservation.
4:46:00 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 110.
4:46:55 PM
GREGORY STEWART, Director of Grants, Alaska Native Heritage
Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 110. He
said the bill is valuable for museums in Alaska which are
important to Native and non-Native residents. At the core of
museums is education for both locals and visitors. Museums teach
what it means to be Alaskan. The ability for museums to access
state money would be impactful. He said there are grant
opportunities that require matching funds but all too often he
has been unable to obtain assistance from the state.
4:49:21 PM
VIRGINIA HATFIELD, Executive Director, Museum of the Aleutians,
Unalaska, Alaska, testified in support of SB 110. She said the
Museum of the Aleutians was build 25 years ago to meet the
mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich cultural
legacy of the region. To meet the needs of the community the
museum needs to expand, as it collects hundreds of items every
year. The museum's strategic plan includes expansion. The museum
is also offering more services and needs room for staff. Alaska
museums face clear and urgent facility issues. SB 110 would help
address issues such as installing heating, ventilation, and air
condition (HVAC) systems, repairing leaking roofs, and
installing security systems to preserve and protect artifacts.
4:51:50 PM
TANIA CLUCUS, Executive Director, Morris Thompson Cultural and
Visitor Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of SB
110. Although not technically a museum, since 2008 approximately
two million people have visited the center. The center offers
activities and cultural education presentations similar to
museums. She said she has encountered the same problem as
museums and is unable to obtain matching funds to qualify for
grants. SB 110 would make receiving state matching funds a
possibility. She said the center does not have enough reserve
funds to fix items such as the parking lot. The center was built
from federal, state, and private donations which the center
continues to seek support from. Passing SB 110 will provide a
mechanism to maintain museums in the state.
4:54:12 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 110.
4:54:19 PM
MS. RAFSON said she intends to request a committee substitute
containing the amendments Ms. Clough discussed.
4:54:37 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 110 in committee.