Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB91 | |
| SB89 | |
| SB100 | |
| HB154 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 100 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 154-MUSEUM OF THE NORTH
8:44:03 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 154. [CSHB
154(EDC) was before the committee.]
8:44:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, sponsor of HB 154, explained that
it is an Act relating to natural history and cultural history
repositories. The bill revises statutes governing the University
of Alaska by adding a new section that designates the Museum of
the North as a repository of state natural and cultural history
collections and gives the university the authority to designate
other repositories, as needed.
He related that the bill also defines the purpose and functions
of a repository. The Museum of the North collection includes
more than 1.4 million artifacts and specimens, representing
millions of years of biological diversity and thousands of years
of cultural traditions, as well as crucial resources for
research. Designating the Museum of the North as a repository
will help ensure that the historical collections remain
available to researchers, students, Alaska citizens and others
with an interest in natural and cultural history.
8:45:53 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were other museums in the state
that might be included in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON responded that it has been considered.
He deferred to his staff to explain further.
8:46:17 AM
LYNETTE BERGH, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska
State Legislature, provided information related to HB 154. She
said there are currently no other museums that can be designated
as a repository because they do not fit the definition given in
HB 154, which is very specific about the requirements.
CHAIR STEVENS asked what the requirements were.
MS. BURGH replied that museum required the following:
To qualify for designation as a repository, a facility
must be a museum, archeological center, laboratory, or
storage facility managed by the state, a municipal
government, a tribe, or an educational or scientific
institution able to provide long-term professional,
systematic, accountable curatorial services.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the bill creates this concept in
statute.
MS. BURGH replied that the term repository had not been defined
in statute. The Museum of the North is considered by educators
and the university as a repository since it houses historical
and cultural collections. To meet the federal guidelines in
order to procure grants and funding, defining it as an official
state repository would be necessary.
8:48:21 AM
SENATOR GARDNER stated that it is a wonderful idea. She inquired
if the museum in Unalaska would qualify.
MS. BURGH explained that the statute is specific to the
university system.
SENATOR GARDNER asked about page 1, line 14, where it says a
facility must be managed by the state, a municipal government, a
tribe, or an educational or scientific institution. She asked if
that meant management, as opposed to ownership.
MS. BURRS replied that the Museum of the North is managed by the
university.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the museum in Unalaska would qualify.
MS. BURGH deferred to Mr. Winker to answer.
KEVIN WINKER, Chief Curator and Acting Director, University of
Alaska Museum of the North, provided information related to HB
154. He suggested Linda Thibodeau answer Senator Gardner's
question. He noted that the museum in Unalaska is not part of
the university system.
8:51:01 AM
LINDA THIBODEAU, Director, Division of Libraries, Archives, and
Museums, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
answered questions related to HB 154. She explained the bill
includes university repositories only. Other repositories could
be included if they met the criteria of the bill, but it would
have to be through a different statute.
SENATOR GARDNER asked what the benefits of being designated a
repository are. She wondered if it was just to be able to
receive grants and funding.
MS. THIBODEAU deferred to the sponsor to answer. She opined that
Senator Gardner was correct.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied that the intent is to ensure
that the biological and cultural items are preserved and kept
available for researchers, students, and the public.
8:53:14 AM
MS. BURCH concurred with Representative Thompson. She added that
as the collections continue to grow the sponsor would like to
ensure that the museum is able to preserve them.
SENATOR GARDNER shared her recollection of the Sealaska Heritage
Institute. She suggested being designated a repository might
help them receive funding and ensure the preservation of their
artifacts. She thought that other facilities might also benefit
by being repositories.
CHAIR STEVENS agreed that it should be looked into.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON noted that HB 154 changes the statues
governing the university. Currently, they are not able to
receive grants and the legislation would change that.
CHAIR STEVENS held HB 154 in committee.