02/12/2008 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

HB 259-ESTABLISHING ALASKA HISTORY WEEK                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:23:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  announced that the  last order of business  was HOUSE                                                               
BILL NO. 259, "An Act establishing  the first week of every March                                                               
as Alaska History Week."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:23:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   ANNA  FAIRCLOUGH,   Alaska  State   Legislature,                                                               
presented HB  259 as prime sponsor.   She said the  bill proposes                                                               
that  the state  recognize  the  first week  of  March as  Alaska                                                               
History  [Week].   Representative  Fairclough  reported that  for                                                               
many years,  Alaskans have participated  in the  National History                                                               
Day program,  which she stated  is the largest  history education                                                               
program  in the  nation, with  over 700,000  students and  40,000                                                               
teachers   participating  annually.     In   Alaska,  she   said,                                                               
approximately   3,000  students   and  50   teachers  participate                                                               
annually.  Representative Fairclough  concluded, "We're hoping to                                                               
bring recognition day  to Alaska so that we can  join the rest of                                                               
the  nation in  the celebration  and recognize  Alaska's heritage                                                               
and our rich culture."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:24:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES expressed his support of the HB 259.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:25:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH,  in response to Chair  Lynn, explained                                                               
a pin she wore showing a wooly mammoth.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:25:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  said he likes  the idea of having  a week                                                               
[dedicated to appreciation  of Alaska's history], and  he said he                                                               
would one day  like to see a whole curriculum  offered.  He asked                                                               
Representative Fairclough to describe  what she imagines would be                                                               
the venue of an Alaska History Week.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH responded  that  there  is a  national                                                               
participation framework, in which  research papers are submitted,                                                               
exhibits put up, performances offered,  and web sites built.  She                                                               
noted that  the Anchorage  School District has  sent a  letter of                                                               
support for  the bill,  as well  as Southcentral  Foundation, and                                                               
she said there would be no  mandate that would add any additional                                                               
responsibilities to any of the school districts.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said  it would be interesting  to find out                                                               
more  about  the process,  because  he  would like  to  encourage                                                               
participation.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:27:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH, in  response to  Representative Doll,                                                               
said the bill sets up language  in statute to promote history and                                                               
awareness throughout the state.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:28:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  COGHILL  asked  why this  legislation  was  being                                                               
proposed by statute, rather than by resolution.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH replied:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     History, in  itself, is something that's  perpetual and                                                                    
     is  recognized.   I  mean, we  recognize  on an  annual                                                                    
     basis Sexual Assault Awareness month  - that's what I'm                                                                    
     most closely affiliated  with - and so,  someone has to                                                                    
     bring that forward every year  - which is a good thing,                                                                    
     to make sure that you recognize  it.  But history is so                                                                    
     much of our foundation, that  it seems codifying it and                                                                    
     placing it in statute  is an appropriate celebration of                                                                    
     that.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:28:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN  said he thinks highlighting  the history                                                               
of  Alaska is  an excellent  idea.   He  said there  are so  many                                                               
people flowing  into the  major population  centers that  have no                                                               
idea what  the history of Alaska  is, and he said  it bothers him                                                               
that there is no focus on the state's history, which is unique.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN concurred.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:29:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  moved to report  HB 259 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There being no objection,  HB 259 was reported out of the                                                               
House State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:30:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH  said  she would  appreciate  any  co-                                                               
sponsorship  of the  bill,  if  any of  the  House State  Affairs                                                               
Standing Committee members would be so inclined.