02/02/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

             SB 130-ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGE COUNCIL                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:04:05 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI announced  that the  first order  of business                                                               
was  SB 130  sponsored by  Senator Donny  Olson. Previously,  the                                                               
committee  heard eloquent  testimony from  around the  state. All                                                               
testifiers stressed  the risks faced by  Alaska Native languages,                                                               
the  linkage  between language  and  cultural  identity, and  the                                                               
unique perspective  language gives on how  different peoples view                                                               
and interact with the world. SB  130 would establish a council to                                                               
help  protect and  revitalize Alaska's  many Native  tongues. The                                                               
original version  of the bill had  a fiscal note from  the Office                                                               
of  the Governor  for  $387,900 in  FY 13  and  slightly less  in                                                               
subsequent years. Version X of the  bill will have a lower fiscal                                                               
note as  a result  of changes made  in the  committee substitute.                                                               
The bill has a further referral to the Senate Finance Committee.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:05:28 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report the CS for SB 130, labeled 27-                                                                  
LS0779\X,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
with a forthcoming  fiscal note from the  Department of Commerce,                                                               
Community and Economic Development.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  announced that without objection,  CSSB 130                                                               
(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.