Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106

04/25/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 78 ESTABLISH MAY 31 AS KATIE JOHN DAY TELECONFERENCED
Moved HCS SB 78(TRB) Out of Committee
*+ HJR 19 SUPPORT 2020 DECENNIAL CENSUS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHJR 19(TRB) Out of Committee
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
           HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS                                                                          
                         April 25, 2019                                                                                         
                           8:07 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair                                                                                          
Representative John Lincoln                                                                                                     
Representative Dan Ortiz                                                                                                        
Representative Chuck Kopp                                                                                                       
Representative Dave Talerico                                                                                                    
Representative Sarah Vance                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 78                                                                                                              
"An Act establishing May 31 of each year as Katie John Day."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HCS SB 78(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                                                   
Urging  the  United States  Congress  to  fully fund  the  United                                                               
States Census Bureau for the  2020 Census; urging the governor to                                                               
prioritize  an accurate  count for  the 2020  Census; and  urging                                                               
local governments to establish local complete count commissions.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHJR 19(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  78                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH MAY 31 AS KATIE JOHN DAY                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BISHOP                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
03/06/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/06/19       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
03/29/19       (S)       STA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE                                                                  
                         23                                                                                                     
04/04/19       (S)       STA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
04/04/19       (S)       Moved SB 78 Out of Committee                                                                           
04/04/19       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/05/19       (S)       STA RPT 4DP                                                                                            
04/05/19       (S)       DP: SHOWER, KAWASAKI, COGHILL, MICCICHE                                                                
04/12/19       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
04/12/19       (S)       VERSION: SB  78                                                                                        
04/15/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/15/19       (H)       TRB                                                                                                    
04/25/19       (H)       TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HJR 19                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT 2020 DECENNIAL CENSUS                                                                                      
SPONSOR(s): TRIBAL AFFAIRS                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
04/24/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/24/19       (H)       TRB, CRA                                                                                               
04/25/19       (H)       TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CLICK BISHOP                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented SB 78.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN MARTIN                                                                                                                  
Ahtna, Inc.                                                                                                                     
Glennallen, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in favor of SB 78.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MICHELLE ANDERSON, President                                                                                                    
Ahtna, Inc.                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BRUCE CAIN                                                                                                                      
Glennallen, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  testified during the hearing on SB 78.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GRACE SINGH, Staff                                                                                                              
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky                                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented HJR 19 on behalf of                                                                            
Representative Zulkosky, prime sponsor.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
GREG BRINGHURST, Director                                                                                                       
Public Policy and External Affairs                                                                                              
Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA)                                                                                             
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HJR 19.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MIKE WALSH, Ph.D., Vice President                                                                                               
Public Policy                                                                                                                   
The Foraker Group                                                                                                               
City & State                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HJR 19.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director                                                                                             
Alaska Municipal League (AML)                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified  regarding the importance  of HJR
19 to AML members.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:07:52 AM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR  TIFFANY ZULKOSKY  called  the House  Special Committee  on                                                             
Tribal Affairs  meeting to  order at  8:07 a.m.   Representatives                                                               
Vance, Ortiz, Lincoln,  and Zulkosky were present at  the call to                                                               
order.  Representatives Talerico and  Kopp arrived as the meeting                                                               
was in progress.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
            SB 78-ESTABLISH MAY 31 AS KATIE JOHN DAY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:08:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced  that the first order  of business would                                                               
be SENATE BILL  NO. 78, "An Act establishing May  31 of each year                                                               
as Katie John Day."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:09:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  CLICK   BISHOP,  Alaska  State  Legislature,   as  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented SB 78.   He acknowledged Representative Foster                                                               
for sponsoring  a companion  bill in the  House.   He paraphrased                                                               
the   sponsor  statement,   which  read   as  follows   [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Athabascan  elder Katie  John  was well  known for  her                                                                    
     determination  and  persistence  in defense  of  Alaska                                                                    
     Native customary and  traditional hunting, fishing, and                                                                    
     gathering  rights. She  was a  mentor to  many Alaskans                                                                    
     through her teachings, humor,  gentle spirit and loving                                                                    
     ways.  Katie John  is an  Alaska icon  who devoted  her                                                                    
     life  to  protect  the   traditions  of  her  ancestral                                                                    
     homeland.  Katie John  died May  31, 2013.  She was  97                                                                    
     years old.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Katie John  lived in  Mentasta Lake  and was  raised to                                                                    
     live off  the land  under the  tutelage of  her mother,                                                                    
     grandmother and other elders of  her community. She was                                                                    
     a consummate  teacher and was  always willing  to share                                                                    
     her ancestral traditions, culture  and history. She was                                                                    
     well known  and respected throughout Alaska  and around                                                                    
     the world for her advocacy of Native rights.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Katie John  was a member  of the Ahtna  Regional Native                                                                    
     Corporation.  According  to  Ahtna  President  Michelle                                                                    
     Anderson, "Every  great culture  in the world  is known                                                                    
     by  their  traditional  foods and  the  survival  of  a                                                                    
     culture  depends  on  the people's  ability  to  gather                                                                    
     those foods. Katie  fought for our right  to access our                                                                    
     traditional homelands because she  knew that we need to                                                                    
     be  able to  feed  our  families. It  was  a matter  of                                                                    
     cultural and human survival."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Always  passionate  about   preserving  the  Athabascan                                                                    
     culture  and  language,  Katie  John  was  involved  in                                                                    
     teaching  her Native  language  since  1974 and  helped                                                                    
     create  the   alphabet  for  the  Ahtna   dialect.  She                                                                    
     received  an honorary  Doctor of  Laws degree  from the                                                                    
     University of Alaska Fairbanks in  2011. Katie John and                                                                    
     her husband, Chief Fred John,  who died in 2000, raised                                                                    
     14 children  and 6 foster  children. She  leaves behind                                                                    
     approximately  250  grandchildren,  great-grandchildren                                                                    
     and great-great-grandchildren.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Due  to her  impressive  role  in protecting  ancestral                                                                    
     traditions in Alaska, SB 78  will establish the date of                                                                    
     May 31 as  Katie John Day in honor of  her memory. This                                                                    
     bill  is a  simple yet  fitting tribute  to a  powerful                                                                    
     woman who cherished the Alaskan way of life.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BISHOP shared  the reason for the selection of  May 31 as                                                               
the date to honor Ms. John is  not because she died that day, but                                                               
because that is  the first day in spring that  she could put fish                                                               
wheels in the Copper River.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:12:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened public testimony on SB 78.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:12:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN MARTIN, Ahtna,  Inc., stated that she is  a grandchild of                                                               
Katie  John  and expressed  appreciation  to  Senator Bishop  and                                                               
Representative Foster  for the efforts  to honor  her grandmother                                                               
for all her accomplishments.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:13:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHELLE   ANDERSON,  President,   Ahtna,  Inc.,   described  her                                                               
pleasure in fulfilling the simple  request for picked berries Ms.                                                               
John made  when she was  in the hospital,  especially considering                                                               
all  Ms.  John  had  done  for Alaska  Natives.    She  expressed                                                               
appreciation   for  the   work   done  by   Senator  Bishop   and                                                               
Representative  Foster and  their staff,  who have  advocated for                                                               
this legislation.   Ms. Anderson stated her belief  that Ms. John                                                               
is  a  hero  to  all  in  Alaska  who  practice  and  believe  in                                                               
subsistence.   She said  she thinks  it is  right and  fitting to                                                               
recognize Ms. John's  name on the calendar for all  she has done.                                                               
She said  this would be  a legacy  to pass down  for generations.                                                               
She said Ms. John welcomed anyone  who wanted to learn about "our                                                               
culture and our  way of life."   She said it is  difficult not to                                                               
become  emotional when  this issue  is brought  up "every  single                                                               
year."  She said there are few  people in the state who have done                                                               
what Ms. John has done.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:16:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRUCE CAIN stated that although  he serves as president of Copper                                                               
Valley  Chamber  of Commerce,  he  was  testifying on  behalf  of                                                               
himself.  He reflected that he  used to drive 100 miles to attend                                                               
prayer meetings held by Ms. John.   He shared that he was wearing                                                               
the last pair of  moccasins made by Ms. John in  her mid-90s.  He                                                               
described  Ms. John  as  a  wonderful, loving  human  being.   He                                                               
stated that she was well-loved by the community.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:18:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY,  after ascertaining  that there  was no  one else                                                               
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 78.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:19:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BISHOP indicated  that he  sought to  have the  proposed                                                               
legislation amended  to provide  for an immediate  effective date                                                               
so that  it can be presented  to Ms. John's family  and the Ahtna                                                               
people in order for them to have a celebration on [May] 31.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:19:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN moved to  adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, to                                                               
establish an immediate effective date for  SB 78.  There being no                                                               
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:20:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN moved to report  SB 78, as amended, out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
zero fiscal  note.  There  being no objection, HCSSB  78(TRB) was                                                               
reported out of the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:20:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:20 a.m. to 8:22 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
              HJR 19-SUPPORT 2020 DECENNIAL CENSUS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:22:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced  that the final order  of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  JOINT RESOLUTION  NO.  19,  Urging the  United  States                                                               
Congress to  fully fund the  United States Census Bureau  for the                                                               
2020 Census; urging the governor  to prioritize an accurate count                                                               
for the  2020 Census; and  urging local governments  to establish                                                               
local complete count commissions.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:23:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GRACE  SINGH, Staff,  Representative Tiffany  Zulkosky, presented                                                               
HJR 19 on behalf of  Representative Zulkosky, prime sponsor.  She                                                               
said Alaska receives  $3.2 billion in federal  funding each year,                                                               
and the  receipt of  that funding  is tied  to U.S.  Census data.                                                               
She said the maintenance of  that federal funding during times of                                                               
budget  constraint is  critical  to Alaska's  economy.   Lack  of                                                               
accurate  census  data  "discourages investments  in  communities                                                               
across the  state."  Organizations  across the state rely  on the                                                               
funds.   The  undercounting of  Alaskans in  the U.S.  Census can                                                               
result in a loss of $3,000  per person annually, which amounts to                                                               
$30,000 per  person over a  10-year period.   She said  Alaska is                                                               
considered one of the most difficult  states to count in the U.S.                                                               
Census  because of  its  geographic,  language, and  connectivity                                                               
barriers.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. SINGH  stated that Alaska  needs a count commission  that can                                                               
prioritize an  accurate count of the  population "before starting                                                               
conversations about how  the data will be used."   She concluded,                                                               
"As  the  2020 Census  launches  its  count  in Toksook  Bay,  on                                                               
January 21,  2020, it is  imperative that Alaska's  leadership at                                                               
all levels of government prioritize an accurate count."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:25:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY related  that HJR 19 was crafted in  response to a                                                               
presentation heard  by the House  Community and  Regional Affairs                                                               
Standing Committee on Tuesday.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:25:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP  noted  that  the  Department  of  Commerce,                                                               
Community &  Economic Development  (DCCED) uses  information from                                                               
the U.S. Census for state revenue sharing purposes.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:26:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GREG BRINGHURST,  Director, Public  Policy and  External Affairs,                                                               
Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA),  testified in support of HJR
19.  He said  the data gained through the U.S.  Census is used to                                                               
determine   allocations  for   many  programs,   including  those                                                               
pertaining to roads, transportation,  housing programs, water and                                                               
wastewater  systems, education,  and  substance abuse  prevention                                                               
and treatment.   He said CIHA believes that HJR  19 would support                                                               
the ongoing efforts  in Alaska to ensure a  complete and accurate                                                               
count.   He  expressed  appreciation for  language  in the  joint                                                               
resolution  that encourages  participation and  coordination with                                                               
the State of Alaska, as  well as encouraging local governments to                                                               
establish complete  count commissions  (CCCs), many of  which are                                                               
ongoing or  being established  currently.   He said  a CCC  is an                                                               
excellent  way for  tribal and  local governments  to "coordinate                                                               
and  cooperate with  the U.S.  Census Borough  in a  formal way."                                                               
Local knowledge  can be  used to build  trust in  communities and                                                               
educate residents  on why the  U.S. Census really matters  and to                                                               
promote full participation.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:29:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE  WALSH, Ph.D.,  Vice President,  Public Policy,  The Foraker                                                               
Group,  testified  in  support  of   HJR  29.    He  relayed  his                                                               
involvement with  the Alaska  Census Work Group.   He  echoed the                                                               
point about  Alaska being difficult  to count in the  U.S. Census                                                               
because  of its  remote locations.   He  stated that  The Foraker                                                               
Group believes  HJR 19  emphasizes the importance  of a  fair and                                                               
accurate  count,  highlights  the   important  role  the  federal                                                               
government plays  in funding the  U.S. Census Borough  effort and                                                               
the essential  role of the state  in engaging all Alaskans  to be                                                               
counted,  and  brings  attention   to  the  importance  of  local                                                               
governments  to establish  the CCCs.   He  expressed appreciation                                                               
for the related discussion heard  during the joint meeting of the                                                               
House Community  and Regional Affairs Standing  Committee and the                                                               
House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs early this week.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:32:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened public testimony on HJR 19.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:32:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NILS  ANDREASSEN,  Executive  Director, Alaska  Municipal  League                                                               
(AML), emphasized  the importance  of ensuring an  accurate count                                                               
in  the U.S.  Census.   He listed  the amounts  other states  are                                                               
considering   investing  toward   ensuring   a  complete   count:                                                               
Colorado,  $12  million;  Virginia, $1.5  million;  Maryland,  $4                                                               
million;   Washington,   $12   million;   Nevada,   $5   million;                                                               
California, $90  million; and North  Carolina, $1.5 million.   He                                                               
said even though the Office  of Management & Budget has confirmed                                                               
the  availability of  "some" funding,  he  feels HJR  19 and  the                                                               
legislature's support of a complete  count is important.  He said                                                               
AML is  encouraged that  the CCC  includes local  governments but                                                               
encourages    "increased   and    meaningful   cooperation    and                                                               
coordination"  between the  Office  of the  Governor, the  United                                                               
States Census Bureau,  and AML.  Mr. Andreassen  related that AML                                                               
is  offering incentives  to local  governments to  form CCCs  and                                                               
will continue  to do so  in the  next months.   More importantly,                                                               
AML will encourage communities to  try to change the numbers from                                                               
the 2010  United States  Census.  He  expressed AML's  support of                                                               
"your" efforts.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:34:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY,  after ascertaining  that there  was no  one else                                                               
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 19.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:35:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  moved to  adopt Amendment 1  to HJR  19, as                                                               
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     On page 3, line 3:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
          Following "shall be sent to"                                                                                          
          Insert "Governor Michael J. Dunleavy"                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:35:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN  moved to report  HJR 19, as  amended, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying zero fiscal note.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:36:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO  objected for the purpose  of discussion.                                                               
He  emphasized  the  importance  of  an  accurate  census  toward                                                               
ensuring  equal  representation  throughout   Alaska.    He  then                                                               
removed his objection.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:37:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ZULKOSKY  announced that there  being no  further objection                                                               
[CSHJR 19(TRB)] was  reported out of the  House Special Committee                                                               
on Tribal Affairs.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:37:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There  being  no  further  business  before  the  committee,  the                                                               
Special  Committee on  Tribal Affairs  meeting  was adjourned  at                                                               
8:38 a.m.                                                                                                                       

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Census 2020 Sponsor Statement .pdf HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM
SB 78 Sponsor Statement.pdf HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM
SB 78
SB0078A.PDF HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM
SB 78
HJR019A.PDF HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM
HJR 19