Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
04/16/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HR6 | |
| HB126 | |
| HR7 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
April 16, 2019
8:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair
Representative John Lincoln
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Dave Talerico
Representative Sarah Vance
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6
Expressing support and appreciation for the National Native
American Veterans Memorial.
- MOVED HR 6 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 126
"An Act establishing November as Alaska Native Heritage Month."
- MOVED HB 126 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7
Urging the governor to continue to fully implement the Alaska
Tribal Child Welfare Compact and build ongoing partnerships
between the state and tribal governments.
- MOVED HR 7 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HR 6
SHORT TITLE: NAT'L. NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LINCOLN
03/18/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/18/19 (H) TRB, MLV
04/09/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/09/19 (H) Heard & Held
04/09/19 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
04/16/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 126
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH
SPONSOR(s): TRIBAL AFFAIRS
04/08/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/08/19 (H) TRB
04/09/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/09/19 (H) Heard & Held
04/09/19 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
04/16/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HR 7
SHORT TITLE: SUPPORT AK TRIBAL CHILD WELFARE COMPACT
SPONSOR(s): TRIBAL AFFAIRS
04/10/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/10/19 (H) TRB
04/11/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/11/19 (H) Heard & Held
04/11/19 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
04/16/19 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN BIOFF, General Counsel
Kawerak, Inc.
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HR 7.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:03:21 AM
CHAIR TIFFANY ZULKOSKY called the House Special Committee on
Tribal Affairs meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. Representatives
Talerico, Lincoln, Ortiz, Vance, Edgmon, and Zulkosky were
present at the call to order. Representative Kopp arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
HR 6-NAT'L. NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL
8:04:25 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6, Expressing support and appreciation
for the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY noted that the committee previously heard a
presentation on HR 6, as well as invited and public testimony.
She asked if Representative Lincoln, the prime sponsor, wished
to make any final comments. He indicated that he did not.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY relayed to committee members that fiscal notes
are available for all three pieces of legislation on today's
calendar, and that they are all zero fiscal notes. After
ascertaining that no committee member wished to offer final
comments on HR 6, she expressed that she would entertain a
motion to move it out of committee.
8:05:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HR 6 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note.
There being no objection, HR 6 was reported out of the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
8:05:21 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:05 a.m. to 8:08 a.m.
HB 126-ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH
8:08:02 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 126, "An Act establishing November as Alaska
Native Heritage Month."
CHAIR ZULKOSKY stated that the committee previously heard a
presentation on HB 126, as well as invited and public testimony.
After ascertaining that no committee member wished to offer
final comments, she expressed that she would entertain a motion
to move HB 126 out of committee.
8:08:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HB 126 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HB 126 was reported out of the
House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
8:08:45 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:09 a.m. to 8:11 a.m.
HR 7-SUPPORT AK TRIBAL CHILD WELFARE COMPACT
8:11:02 AM
CHAIR ZULKOWSKY announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 7, Urging the governor to continue to
fully implement the Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact and
build ongoing partnerships between the state and tribal
governments.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY noted that the committee already heard a
presentation on HR 7, as well as invited and public testimony.
After ascertaining that no committee members had questions about
HR 7, she re-opened public testimony
8:11:51 AM
JOHN BIOFF, General Counsel, Kawerak, Inc., relayed his
professional background and involvement with Kawerak, Inc.,
which he explained is the regional nonprofit tribal consortium
located in Nome. He explained that he is testifying on behalf
of Melanie Bahnke, President and CEO of Kawerak, Inc. He said
Kawerak, Inc. provides social services to the 20 tribes in the
Bering Strait region of Alaska. He added that it operates a
child advocacy center that serves the region, and that it works
in partnership with the State of Alaska (SOA) to facilitate
child abuse investigations. He said Kawerak, Inc. represents
the 20 tribes in Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) proceedings.
He discussed his experience representing tribes in ICWA
proceedings and opined on the importance of Kawerak, Inc.'s
partnership with SOA and the Office of Children's Services
(OCS). He said Kawerak, Inc. has been involved in the
development of the [Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact] from
the beginning and is a signatory. He spoke to the time and
resources invested by Kawerak, Inc. in building relationships
and supporting the compact. He discussed the important of the
compact and HR 7. He stressed that tribal and SOA resources are
limited, so it is imperative that partnerships form to maximize
resources to benefit Alaska families. He said the compact and
partnerships between SOA and tribal governments make sense for
Alaska, given the vastness of the state and the complexity of
challenges facing rural areas. He affirmed Kawerak, Inc.'s
support of HR 7 and the intent and spirit in which it was
drafted. He added that Kawerak, Inc. urges Governor Michael J.
Dunleavy to fully implement the compact and continue the
partnership laid out between SOA and the tribes, as well as to
pursue additional partnership opportunities. He thanked the
committee for the opportunity to testify.
8:14:07 AM
CHAIR ZULKOWSKY thanked Mr. Bioff for his comments. After
ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, she closed
public testimony. She expressed that she would entertain a
motion to move HR 7 out of committee.
8:14:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HR 7 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note.
There being no objection, HR 7 was reported out of the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
8:14:48 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:15 a.m. to 8:17 a.m.
8:17:14 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
8:17 p.m.
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