Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/06/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SJR 13-AMEND ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT
1:38:04 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 13 Encouraging the United States Congress and the
President of the United States to pass and sign legislation
amending the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to release
certain land held in trust back to affected Alaska Native
village corporations.
This is the second hearing of SJR 13 in the Senate Community and
Regional Affairs Committee. The intention is to open public
testimony and move SJR 13 from the committee.
1:38:36 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on SJR 13.
1:39:12 PM
MARJORIE MERRY, President, Baan O Yeel Kon Corporation (BOYK),
Fairbanks, Alaska, stated BOYK is the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporation for the federally recognized
tribe of Rampart Village, where she is a tribal member.
Initially, Rampart Village enrolled 174 individuals. It now has
over 200 shareholders, many of whom still reside there. The
Rampart Village Council governs the community, maintaining
essential services like the power plant, washeteria, school,
health clinic, communications equipment, road service, landfill,
and all the other services a typical municipality would assume.
MS. MERRY stated that BOYK supports the Rampart Village Council
in enhancing its community's health, safety, and well-being, as
all shareholders are tribal members. She described the location
of BOYK-selected lands and noted that sec. 14(c)(3) of ANCSA has
been problematic since its passage. BOYK has always supported
Rampart, but most village lands are far outside the city center.
She said that 50 years ago, it was difficult for the village to
anticipate future municipal land needs. As a result, the
selection of sec. 14(c)(3) ANCSA lands was not completed.
Instead of providing land through the Municipal Land Trust (MLT)
model, BOYK has opted to lease lands directly to the council or
transfer deeds via quitclaim.
1:41:11 PM
MS. MERRY recounted that recently, BOYK quitclaimed ten acres to
the Rampart Village Council for a new landfill, a critical
community need. She said that BOYK attempted to transfer land
into the Municipal Land Trust, but MLT rejected the application.
While BOYK wishes to comply with all the terms of ANCSA, it has
a duty to support its shareholders and community. She described
land processing delays due to an understaffed and underfunded
MLT program, emphasizing that it takes MLT years to accept land
selections into the trust. She opined that the management of MLT
has been one of the major impediments to rural Alaska's economic
development.
MS. MERRY urged full consideration of SJR 13 and thanked the
chair for bringing it before the legislature.
1:43:06 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR closed public testimony on SJR 13.
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.
1:43:29 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SJR 13, work order 33-
LS1205\B, from committee with individual recommendations and any
attached fiscal note(s).
1:43:47 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR found no objection and SJR 13 was reported from the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 13 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 13 |