Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106

02/10/2015 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 65 LEG./PUB. OFFICIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Postponed to 2/12/15>
+ HB 1 STATE ARCTIC POLICY TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 1(EDA) Out of Committee
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
+= HB 13 ELECTION PAMPHLETS AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 13(STA) Out of Committee
                    HB 1-STATE ARCTIC POLICY                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:12:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced  that the final order of  business was HOUSE                                                               
BILL NO.  1, "An Act declaring  the Arctic policy of  the state."                                                               
[Before the committee was CSHB 1(EDA).]                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:12:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BOB HERRON,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented  HB 1.   He said  the legislature  created the                                                               
Alaska Arctic  Policy Commission  (AAPC) in  the spring  of 2012,                                                               
via  House  Concurrent Resolution  23,  and  the mandate  was  to                                                               
release a final report on January  30, 2015, and introduce a bill                                                               
stating Alaska's  Arctic policy.  He  noted that [HB 1]  had been                                                               
through one committee of referral.   He relayed that the products                                                               
released  on January  30  were:   a  final  report, an  executive                                                               
summary,  and  an  implementation plan.    Representative  Herron                                                               
stated that HB  1 meets the statutory  requirement of introducing                                                               
an Arctic policy  bill for the legislature to consider.   He said                                                               
it was  pre-filed and was  a product  of the AAPC,  following two                                                               
years  of vigorous  dialog.   He  said Section  1 is  legislative                                                               
intent,  while  Section  2  would   "go  into  the  blue  books."                                                               
Representative Herron stated that HB  1 would put Alaskans first,                                                               
strengthen the  state's position with the  federal government and                                                               
other  Arctic  nations,  and  lead   to  economic  betterment  in                                                               
Alaska's Arctic region.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:14:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  noted that  his  staff  was available  to                                                               
offer  a sectional  analysis  of HB  1.   Further,  he said  Nils                                                               
Andreassen, an  AAPC member and  executive director  of Institute                                                               
of the North, and Dr. Butler were available for questions.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:15:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON highlighted the  four important elements of                                                               
Alaska's Arctic  policy under HB  1, which read as  follows [from                                                               
the sponsor statement, original punctuation provided]:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
        1) Uphold the state's commitment to economically                                                                        
        vibrant communities while maintaining a healthy                                                                         
     environment;                                                                                                               
        2) Collaborate with all appropriate entities to                                                                         
       achieve transparent and inclusive Arctic decision-                                                                       
     making;                                                                                                                    
      3) Enhance Alaska's security by strengthening Arctic                                                                      
     safety; and                                                                                                                
        4) Value and strengthen the resilience of arctic                                                                        
      communities and respect & integrate the culture and                                                                       
     knowledge of Arctic peoples.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said he would like a sectional analysis.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:16:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER mentioned [the  declaration of state Arctic                                                               
policy,  beginning on  page  2, line  25], and  he  asked if,  by                                                               
supporting HB  1, he  would be  "throwing away  ... some  kind of                                                               
responsibility in the sense of constructive criticism."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  responded that he  does not think so.   He                                                               
said this  is a starting point  to Alaska's Arctic policy  and it                                                               
has to  evolve.   For example,  he said  there may  be strategies                                                               
that become available that Alaska may want to adopt.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  asked  for  a summary  of  the  strategic                                                               
recommendations  of  the  implementation plan  developed  by  the                                                               
AAPC, so  he could better understand  what he was being  asked to                                                               
support.    He  said  he  was aware  that  the  committee  packet                                                               
included an implementation  plan booklet.  He  emphasized that he                                                               
appreciated Representative Herron's work on the commission.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:20:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  responded that the implementation  plan is                                                               
a valuable  part of the  report because it  gives recommendations                                                               
with justifications.  He said  the commission explains who should                                                               
be  the lead,  the  governor,  someone in  a  department, or  the                                                               
legislature,  describes   the  resources  needed,  and   has  "an                                                               
execution."    This is  followed  by  legislative action  and  an                                                               
evaluation.  He said an  individual legislator or the legislature                                                               
can  take on  the  recommendation and  see if  it  can work,  but                                                               
another  option  is  for  the  legislature to  wait  and  not  do                                                               
anything.   He stated,  "That's what I  believe is  valuable with                                                               
this."  He said disagreement is expected.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HERRON  said   the  legislature   should  "think                                                               
Arctic," because  it is  the only  state in  the country  that is                                                               
Arctic.   He stated that the  legislature has had to  learn about                                                               
the Arctic, and  he thinks there was a shared  fear among members                                                               
of the  Northern Waters  Task Force  that "things  were happening                                                               
around us without us being  involved ... in the decision making."                                                               
The  second   audience  to  which   the  commission   was  making                                                               
recommendations  was the  executive branch.   The  commission was                                                               
also  making recommendations  to the  federal government  to work                                                               
with Alaska rather than "treating us  like a junior partner."  He                                                               
told Representative Keller that the  issue was looking at all the                                                               
recommendations as  a starting point  but not agreeing  with them                                                               
all.   He  said work  would be  done to  ensure that  the state's                                                               
Arctic policy works for everyone in the state.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:24:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  responded that he  had heard it  said, "If                                                               
you're not at the table, you're  on the menu."  He emphasized the                                                               
criticalness of Alaska's involvement with Arctic policy.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:25:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON relayed  that  he had  been criticized  by                                                               
some of  the comments that  he made over  the last few  years and                                                               
explained  he   is  skeptical   of  Alaska's   federal  partners.                                                               
However,  he  said he  felt  that  the  legislature wants  to  be                                                               
involved in Arctic  decisions.  He said he  advocated kicking the                                                               
door  in  and inviting  Alaska  where  it  had not  been  invited                                                               
instead of letting  others decide the future of Alaska.   He said                                                               
he knew  there was not  a person present  who did not  agree that                                                               
Alaska must be  involved.  He said strategy has  been combined to                                                               
aim  for success,  but "it's  a  living document,"  and this  and                                                               
future legislatures  must evolve  with federal partners  in terms                                                               
of Arctic policy.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:27:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN directed  attention to page 1, line 13,  which read as                                                               
follows:  "residents  of the state recognize the  risks that come                                                               
with climate  variability".  He  asked if that was  a politically                                                               
correct term for global warming.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:27:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  answered there  are three  [terms]: global                                                               
warming, changing  climate, and  climate change.   He  said there                                                               
were two  camps in the commission.   One said the  term should be                                                               
"changing climate,"  while the other  said it should  be "climate                                                               
change."   He said  as a  co-chair he  made a  strategic decision                                                               
that  "for  every  change  in  climate  we're  going  to  have  a                                                               
reference to climate change, too."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said there is hot  debate over whether there is such a                                                               
thing as  global warming or  climate change.  He  recognized that                                                               
there have been  changes in climate, both warmer and  colder.  He                                                               
said  he does  not  want  to get  involved  in that  controversy,                                                               
because there have been climate changes since creation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  said a Senator on  the commission remarked                                                               
that the climate has been changing  for eons.  He reiterated that                                                               
for every reference there would be an opposite reference.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:29:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN indicated  that the sponsor had  mentioned the state's                                                               
long-time support for the Law of  the Sea Treaty.  He offered his                                                               
understanding  that   the  legislature  had   passed  legislation                                                               
regarding the  treaty a  few years  ago.   He asked,  "Would that                                                               
document the term 'long-term'?"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  said he  does  not  know how  many  times                                                               
"we've passed a resolution," but said  that "we made sure that it                                                               
... wasn't  unanimous."  He  said there are  several legislatures                                                               
that support not ratifying [the  Law of the Sea Treaty]; however,                                                               
more support ratification than do not.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:30:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER said  he would  not object  to moving  the                                                               
bill; however, he  said he is of the minority  that voted against                                                               
the Law of the Sea Treaty.   He explained his vote was because of                                                               
the  obligation   it  may  put   us  under  in  the   context  of                                                               
international courts.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  replied that  "we  recognize  that."   He                                                               
indicated that  it may  be some  time before the  Law of  the Sea                                                               
Treaty is  ratified.  He  said, the  provision you talk  about is                                                               
well chronicled.   He said he  thinks what has been  learned over                                                               
the  last couple  years is  that the  U.S. Senate  should take  a                                                               
careful  look at  it.    He stated  his  belief  that the  treaty                                                               
strengthens our  sovereignty on the  open sea, but said  he fully                                                               
recognizes  that  the  United Nations  mining  law  provision  is                                                               
"unfortunate."  He  said it would take 67 Senators  to ratify the                                                               
Law of the Sea Treaty.   He questioned whether Alaska's extending                                                               
continental shelf  would come under  attack from others,  if "we"                                                               
become entrenched in  not ratifying the treaty.   He reemphasized                                                               
the importance  of recognizing the  support but  also recognizing                                                               
it is not unanimous.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:33:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  offered  his  understanding  that  President  Ronald                                                               
Reagan had  opposed the  Law of  the Sea Treaty,  but one  of the                                                               
President Bushes  supported it, even though  those two Presidents                                                               
were of the same political party.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON   said  President  Reagan   was  initially                                                               
opposed  to  the  treaty,  but  when he  got  the  amendments  he                                                               
desired, he endorsed the treaty.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:34:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG opined  that  the proposed  legislation                                                               
does not emphasize  the importance of the Law of  the Sea Treaty.                                                               
He offered his understanding that  the record would show that the                                                               
legislature  had passed  two resolutions  supporting the  treaty.                                                               
Further, he  said he thinks the  record would show that  a strong                                                               
majority of the  U.S. Senate has traditionally supported  it.  He                                                               
recognized that Senator  Lisa Murkowski had led the  way for that                                                               
support.  He posited that it  is important that "we recognize the                                                               
importance of that to the country and to the state of Alaska."                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG  expressed  concern that  the  proposed                                                               
legislation  does  not  address  important  environmental  issues                                                               
sufficiently.  One example he  gave was regarding the significant                                                               
impact mankind  has had on  global warming, the effects  of which                                                               
he said have been seen in Alaska  and with the polar ice cap.  He                                                               
said he  would like  to see  the bill  strengthened to  have more                                                               
protection  of the  environment.   He said  he supports  the work                                                               
that the AAPC has done thus far.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:36:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said  the proposed legislation is about  the AAPC, not                                                               
about what  causes global  warming.   He added  that he  does not                                                               
think he  would like to  see the  discussion focus on  the global                                                               
warming debate.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  opined the fact that  the proposed bill                                                               
language does not say more is, in itself, a policy statement.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:37:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON responded first to  issue of the Law of the                                                               
Sea Treaty,  which he reiterated  is well-chronicled.   He opined                                                               
that  a memorandum  from the  legislature  to the  U.S. Senate  -                                                               
reflecting that  although not unanimous,  there has  been support                                                               
for ratification - is sufficient.   Regarding the environment, he                                                               
said there  is a strong statement  on page 3, line  5, which read                                                               
as follows:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                    (D) sustain current, and develop new,                                                                       
     approaches for  responding to  a changing  climate, and                                                                    
     adapt to the challenges  of coastal erosion, permafrost                                                                    
     melt, and ocean acidification;                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON indicated  that the  commission wanted  to                                                               
emphasize the  importance of adapting  to survival.  He  said the                                                               
commission believes that in the  codified portion of the proposed                                                               
legislation, it  was succinct  in listing  those things  that are                                                               
important to Arctic  policy; however, it did not  want the policy                                                               
to be "so heavy in any one place."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:40:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NILS  ANDREASSEN, Executive  Director,  Institute  of the  North;                                                               
Member,   Alaska   Arctic   Policy  Commission,   expressed   his                                                               
appreciation to the  sponsor for bringing forward HB 1.   He said                                                               
he thought the sponsor had  described the balance that was struck                                                               
in focusing on the Arctic for  the benefit of Alaskans.  Further,                                                               
he  remarked that  the questions  of the  committee thus  far had                                                               
highlighted  the different  elements of  that balance.   He  said                                                               
this speaks to the careful negotiations within the commission.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDREASSEN  named four elements of  the proposed legislation:                                                               
economic   development,    necessity   for    collaboration   and                                                               
cooperation, healthy  communities, and  healthy environment.   He                                                               
said all  these elements together provide  prosperity and success                                                               
for Alaska.   Regarding the issue of climate  change and changing                                                               
climate,  he said  the proposed  legislation "has  emphasized our                                                               
response to  such a  change and not  attributed any  causation to                                                               
it."  He indicated that the  commission focuses on how to prepare                                                               
for   issues  that   will   affect  Alaskans.      He  said   the                                                               
implementation plan provides options regarding climate change.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDREASSEN  stated that  the proposed  legislation highlights                                                               
the state's  past support  for and  continued efforts  around the                                                               
Law of the Sea  Treaty.  He said there was  a lot of deliberation                                                               
regarding the treaty and notes  from prior meetings show that the                                                               
state wants  results as it  moves forward in pushing  the federal                                                               
government  toward  ratification.    He  said  the  final  report                                                               
highlights some of  those issues.  He opined  that the commission                                                               
felt  strongly that  Alaska's policy  legislation  should not  be                                                               
solely about  what the  federal government  should do,  but focus                                                               
more on meeting the  needs of Alaska.  In the  same way, the bill                                                               
is  not  only  about  environmental  change  or  protection,  but                                                               
highlights  the   state's  guarding  of   both.    He   said  the                                                               
recommendation  plan  states  a  number  of  recommendations  for                                                               
supporting  environmental  protection   and  conservation  access                                                               
issues.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:44:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. ANDREASSEN  emphasized that a  "yes" vote  on HB 1  would not                                                               
commit the person voting to  the implementation plan, because the                                                               
plan is a  "suite of options for future action."   He stated, "To                                                               
the  extent that  you're  interested  in any  of  these issues  -                                                               
singularly  or  as  a  whole  - you're  able  to  draw  from  the                                                               
implementation plan and  move an issue forward."   He said action                                                               
could occur from  the legislature, from state  agencies, and from                                                               
the  business community  within  the  next two  years.   He  said                                                               
moving  the  proposed legislation  forward  would  send a  strong                                                               
signal  that  the State  of  Alaska  is  interested in  taking  a                                                               
leadership  role in  the Arctic  and seeing  changes benefit  the                                                               
state, with state consultation at the forefront.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:45:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said there would be an upcoming sectional analysis.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:45:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON,  in response to  Representative Gruenberg,                                                               
said the  issue of subsistence is  addressed on page 4,  line 12.                                                               
He said subsistence  is one of the topics  the commission decided                                                               
should be  covered under  Alaska's Arctic policy.   He  said, "It                                                               
recognizes the indigenous people,  all our unique relationship to                                                               
the  environment,  and  traditional  ... way  of  life  for  food                                                               
security."   He recollected,  as a  legislative staffer  in 1987,                                                               
hearing people question in frustration  why someone who is having                                                               
difficulty living  in a  certain part of  the state  doesn't just                                                               
move to Anchorage.  He said  he knows that "everyone at the table                                                               
is invested in their community."   People have homes, businesses,                                                               
families, and  a connection to the  land in which they  live.  He                                                               
said the  aforementioned language  says more  than its  few lines                                                               
may  suggest; it  says a  lot of  things about  all Alaskans  and                                                               
emphasizes how important being in Alaska is.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:48:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said "we" don't want  this or any other bill to damage                                                               
the indigenous people of Alaska.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON indicated  that that  should also  include                                                               
those who may not be indigenous, but were born in Alaska.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:48:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked  if the items in HB  1 were listed                                                               
in order of priority.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON answer no, they are all "number ones."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:49:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS  noted  that   the  value  of  the                                                               
culture  and knowledge  of  Arctic people  is  recognized in  the                                                               
proposed  legislation.   He expressed  his desire  to see  Native                                                               
languages recognized, as well.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:50:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON said  he would not object,  and he ventured                                                               
that would be an important addition.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:51:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  asked, "Did  the commission  consider this                                                               
question?"   Further,  he questioned  whether the  commission was                                                               
open to "other things."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON answered  that during  strategic planning,                                                               
everyone  on  the commission  offered  up  many ideas  that  were                                                               
discussed,  and then  the commission  narrowed down  those ideas.                                                               
He recollected that the language  of indigenous people was one of                                                               
the topics  considered, but it  got incorporated  into "recognize                                                               
Arctic indigenous people's cultures".                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:52:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROB  EARL,   Staff,  Representative  Bob  Herron,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Herron,  prime sponsor,                                                               
offered a sectional analysis on HB  1.  He stated that in Section                                                               
1, there  are eight findings and  four statements of intent.   He                                                               
highlighted the following:  the  third finding, which states that                                                               
Alaskans  are Arctic  experts; the  sixth  finding, which  states                                                               
that respect for indigenous peoples  is critical to understanding                                                               
the Arctic; the  eighth finding, which states  that Alaska should                                                               
create and  maintain an official  body to further  develop Arctic                                                               
strategies  and policies,  which  has already  occurred; and  the                                                               
third statement  of intent, which  states that the  Arctic policy                                                               
would serve as a guide for the implementation policy.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:54:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG,  regarding Arctic policy of  the state,                                                               
observed that  the bill references  the wishes of residents.   He                                                               
asked if the commission had considered  what would be in the best                                                               
interest  of Alaska  as "a  continuing  geographic and  ecosystem                                                               
throughout the ages."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN said  he  assumed consideration  had  been given  for                                                               
future generations.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:56:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  stated  that  the intent  of  the  Arctic                                                               
policy would be  to help future generations  and the environment.                                                               
He  added, "Probably  woven  into that  is we  don't  want to  be                                                               
treated like a colony."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG   asked  about   people  who   are  not                                                               
residents of the  state but have a real interest  in what goes on                                                               
in Alaska.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  ventured that  the  end  result would  be                                                               
favorable to  all parties.   He said Alaska  is part of  a nation                                                               
that  would  share  in  the  benefits  from  Alaska's  resources;                                                               
however,  he reiterated  that  Alaska  should not  be  used as  a                                                               
colony where  resources are extracted  with nothing  left behind.                                                               
He said  the commission wants  to see  a healthy state  that will                                                               
continue to flourish.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:58:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  EARL continued  with the  sectional analysis.   He  directed                                                               
attention to  Section 2, and  reviewed that paragraph  (1) speaks                                                               
to economically  vibrant communities  and a  healthy environment,                                                               
which includes  ensuring local benefits shown  under subparagraph                                                               
(A).   He highlighted subparagraph (C),  regarding the attracting                                                               
of  investments,   and  subparagraph   [(F)],  which   speaks  to                                                               
maintaining  a  strong  fisheries   industry.    He  pointed  out                                                               
paragraph  (3),  which  lists  the  enhancement  of  security  in                                                               
[Alaska's  Arctic  region],  including the  increased  safety  of                                                               
marine transportation  and the increased  presence of  the United                                                               
States Coast  Guard, as  shown under  subparagraphs (B)  and (D),                                                               
respectively.  He returned to  language to which the bill sponsor                                                               
had  brought  attention,  regarding  the  recognition  of  Arctic                                                               
indigenous   people's   cultures    and   relationship   to   the                                                               
environment.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  EARL directed  attention to  language beginning  on page  4,                                                               
line 26, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
               (b) It is important to the state, as it                                                                          
     relates  to  the  Arctic,   to  support  the  strategic                                                                    
     recommendations  of the  implementation plan  developed                                                                    
     by  the   Alaska  Arctic   Policy  Commission   and  to                                                                    
     encourage  consideration  of recommendations  developed                                                                    
     by  the  Alaska  Arctic Policy  Commission.    Priority                                                                    
     lines  of effort  for the  Arctic policy  of the  state                                                                    
     include                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                    (1) promoting economic and resource                                                                         
     development;                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                    (2) addressing the infrastructure and                                                                       
     response capacity  gap in order  to support  the Arctic                                                                    
     region;                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
            (3) supporting healthy communities; and                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                    (4) supporting existing and fostering                                                                       
     new  science  and  research   that  aligns  with  state                                                                    
     priorities for the Arctic.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. EARL directed  attention to page 5, lines  6-10, which define                                                               
the  meaning   of  Arctic,  which   read  as   follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
          (c) In this section, "Arctic" means the area of                                                                       
     the state  north of the  Arctic Circle, north  and west                                                                    
     of  the boundary  formed by  the Porcupine,  Yukon, and                                                                    
     Kuskokwim  Rivers, all  contiguous seas,  including the                                                                    
     Arctic  Ocean, and  the Beaufort,  Bering, and  Chukchi                                                                    
     Seas,  and the  Aleutian  Chain, except  that, for  the                                                                    
     purpose of international  Arctic policy, "Arctic" means                                                                    
     the entirety of the state.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. EARL  said after much  discussion, the commission  decided to                                                               
"align  the  boundary with  the  federal  definition," which  was                                                               
determined through federal legislation in 1984.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:00:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   KREISS-TOMKINS   asked    where   that   federal                                                               
definition was determined.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON offered  his understanding  that President                                                               
Eisenhower had  been against  "the entire  state being  a state."                                                               
He said  President Eisenhower  had felt  that anything  north and                                                               
west  of Porcupine,  Yukon, Kuskokwim  - "PYK  line" -  could not                                                               
support itself, while  anything south of that  had already proved                                                               
it could.  He said Bob  Atwood, John Butrovich, and Walter Hickel                                                               
visited President  Eisenhower to explain how  his thought process                                                               
was flawed,  and they and  others convinced the President  not to                                                               
bisect  Alaska.   Representative  Herron said  history has  shown                                                               
that the  Arctic Ocean and the  Bering Sea are important  to each                                                               
other.  He  concluded, "That's why the definition  came - because                                                               
of that debate in the '50s."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:03:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG, regarding  the  bill sponsor's  having                                                               
said that  all the items  in the  bill have number  one priority,                                                               
directed attention to page 4,  line 29, which refers to "priority                                                               
lines  of effort".    He  asked specifically  if  the four  items                                                               
[language provided previously] are truly equal in priority.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON confirmed that is correct.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:04:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN,  after ascertaining  that there was  no one  else who                                                               
wished to testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:04:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said he was ready  to make a motion to move                                                               
HB 1 out of committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:04:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS moved  to  adopt  Amendment 1,  to                                                               
insert the following language on page  4, line 26:  "document and                                                               
revitalize  languages of  Arctic indigenous  peoples".   He added                                                               
that it would be "in keeping with the theme of that section."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER objected  for the  purpose of  discussion.                                                               
He   asked  Representative   Kreiss-Tomkins  exactly   where  the                                                               
proposed language would be added.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS reiterated page 4, line 26.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:06:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  asked if  the proposed Amendment  1 was                                                               
conceptual.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:06:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  asked to  hear from  the bill  sponsor how                                                               
Amendment 1 might fit.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:07:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked if the  proposed amendment might have                                                               
been intended for page 4, lines 12-15.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS  explained that he had  thought the                                                               
proposed amendment  could be "a  new point"; however, he  said he                                                               
could see the  logic of moving it into the  language on lines 12-                                                               
15.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  reiterated  that  after  discussion,  the                                                               
commission  had incorporated  Native  languages into  "indigenous                                                               
peoples' cultures";  however, he said if  it was the will  of the                                                               
committee  to add  reference  specifically  to Native  languages,                                                               
then he  would recommend  it be added  to [subparagraph  (A)], on                                                               
page 4, lines  12-15.  He reemphasized that the  Arctic means the                                                               
entire  state  of Alaska;  therefore,  it  should not  be  Arctic                                                               
indigenous languages,  but should be indigenous  languages of the                                                               
residents of Alaska.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:09:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he  thought the language in Section                                                               
2,  subsection  (c),  on  page  5,  lines  6-10,  [text  provided                                                               
previously],  seemed  to state  the  opposite  of what  the  bill                                                               
sponsor  just   stated.    He  offered   his  understanding  that                                                               
Amendment  1  was  "not  just international."    He  suggested  a                                                               
conforming  amendment may  be necessary  "to make  sure that  ...                                                               
that's covered within this definition."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:10:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS,  in  response  to  Representative                                                               
Gruenberg, confirmed that the proposed amendment was conceptual.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG reviewed  the concept  of a  conceptual                                                               
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:11:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON suggest that  Amendment 1 be withdrawn, and                                                               
he  said he  would sponsor  an amendment  on the  House floor  to                                                               
"take care of this."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:12:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN said he was not  sure this was germane to the proposed                                                               
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:12:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  directed attention to language  on page 2,                                                               
beginning on line  25, which he noted was a  declaration of state                                                               
Arctic policy.  He then  directed attention to subsection (4), on                                                               
page 4, line [10], which states  that the policy is to "value and                                                               
strengthen  the   resilience  of  communities  and   respect  and                                                               
integrate  the   culture  and   knowledge  of   Arctic  peoples",                                                               
following which  he noted were  five [subparagraphs].   He opined                                                               
that "it is germane in that  section" but would not be elsewhere.                                                               
He expressed uncertainty  over the use of the  term "document" in                                                               
Amendment  1, because  "using that  term  may push  the edges  of                                                               
this."   He indicated that  he had no problem  with acknowledging                                                               
the  value  of  indigenous  languages   in  the  context  of  the                                                               
appreciation of the culture and knowledge of the Arctic people.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:14:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS said  he  would  like to  withdraw                                                               
Amendment 1, and he concurred  with the bill sponsor's suggestion                                                               
regarding moving forward with HB  1.  He expressed willingness to                                                               
work with  the sponsor  and any  other interested  legislators to                                                               
come up with something (indisc. -- overlapping voices).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN stated  his  intent had  been  to move  HB  1 out  of                                                               
committee, but  said if  it was  the will  of the  committee, the                                                               
proposed legislation could be heard again at a future date.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS offered  his understanding that the                                                               
sponsor had talked  about the potential for an  amendment made on                                                               
the House floor.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:14:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER opined  that [amending  the bill]  was the                                                               
work of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:15:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG  concurred with  Representative  Keller                                                               
and indicated  that although the House  Rules Standing Committee,                                                               
as  the next  committee of  referral, could  amend the  bill, the                                                               
House State  Affairs Standing Committee  was "really more  set up                                                               
to do this."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN asked for the recommendation of the bill sponsor.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:15:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON replied that  even though the definition of                                                               
"Arctic"  on page  5, [lines  6-10], was  accurate, he  could not                                                               
emphasize  enough  that  "you  can't  separate  Alaska  from  the                                                               
Arctic."  He  said if the proposed bill was  amended to recognize                                                               
Alaska  indigenous languages,  it should  recognize all  of them,                                                               
not just some of  them.  He said he would like  the others on the                                                               
commission  to  consider such  an  amendment,  but he  recognized                                                               
there may  be a need to  hold the bill over  for another hearing.                                                               
He  reiterated  that  the   bill  already  recognizes  indigenous                                                               
peoples'  cultures, and  one  of the  foundations  of culture  is                                                               
language.  In response to  Chair Lynn, he said his recommendation                                                               
would be to withdraw Amendment 1.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:18:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS  withdrew   his  motion  to  adopt                                                               
Amendment 1.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:18:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER reiterated he was ready to make a motion.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:18:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  asked Representative Herron  to clarify                                                               
what he thought about [the withdrawn] Amendment 1.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:18:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  reiterated that  he  and  his four  other                                                               
colleagues  should  have   a  conversation  with  [Representative                                                               
Kreiss-Tomkins]  to  confirm  or  not confirm  whether  the  term                                                               
"indigenous culture" includes indigenous  language.  He concurred                                                               
that committee  work should not be  done on the House  floor.  He                                                               
said  he thought  the  Senate "should  have  that discussion,  as                                                               
well."  He said that is why he  had asked for the amendment to be                                                               
withdrawn.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG   suggested  either  the   House  State                                                               
Affairs  Standing  Committee address  the  language  at its  next                                                               
meeting, after the  bill sponsor had had a chance  to confer with                                                               
his colleagues,  or that  "we put  the amendment  in and  you can                                                               
take it out."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON  responded on  Representative  Gruenberg's                                                               
second point that  that is not how  he likes to do  business.  He                                                               
reiterated that the commission believes that indigenous language                                                                
is included when speaking of culture.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:20:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to   report  CSHB  1(EDA)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
zero  fiscal note.   There  being no  objection, CSHB  1(EDA) was                                                               
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                     

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
01 HB0001 EDA Ver I.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
01a HB0001 Ver E - Original Version.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
02 HB1 Sponsor Statement.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
03 HB 1 Summary of Changes from version E to HB 1 (EDA) vers (I)ndigo.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
04 HB 1 Sectional Analysis HB 1 (EDA) vers I.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
05 HB 1 Fiscal Note - HB001-DEC-SPAR-02-02-15.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
06 HB1 Fiscal Note - HB001-DEC-FC-02-02-15.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
07 HB1 Fiscal Note - HB001-DHSS-HSS-02-05-15.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
08 HB1 Fiscal Note - HB1-LEG-SESS-01-22-15.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
09 HB1 AAPC_final_report_lowres.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
10 HB1 AAPC_ImplementationPlan_lowres.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1
07a HB1 UPDATED Fiscal Note - HB001-DHSS-CO-02-07-15 #2.pdf HSTA 2/10/2015 8:00:00 AM
HB 1