05/06/2023 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB141 | |
| HB26 | |
| SB17 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
May 6, 2023
9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Matt Claman, Vice Chair (via teleconference)
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Kelly Merrick (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 141
"An Act establishing June 9 of each year as Don Young Day."
- MOVED HB 141 OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRB)
"An Act relating to the official languages of the State of
Alaska; renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and
Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; and
relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages."
- MOVED CSHB 26(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 17
"An Act relating to political contributions; and providing for
an effective date."
- MOVED SB 17 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3(JUD) am
Encouraging Congress to pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act
or a similar bill.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 141
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISHING DON YOUNG DAY
SPONSOR(s): RULES
03/27/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/27/23 (H) STA
04/11/23 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/11/23 (H) Moved HB 141 Out of Committee
04/11/23 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/14/23 (H) STA RPT 7DP
04/14/23 (H) DP: STORY, ALLARD, ARMSTRONG,
C.JOHNSON, CARPENTER, WRIGHT, SHAW
04/20/23 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/20/23 (H) VERSION: HB 141
04/21/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/21/23 (S) STA
05/04/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/04/23 (S) Heard & Held
05/04/23 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/06/23 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 26
SHORT TITLE: COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
SPONSOR(s): STORY
01/19/23 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/19/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/23 (H) EDC, FIN
02/10/23 (H) TRB REPLACES EDC REFERRAL
02/10/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED
03/08/23 (H) TRB AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/08/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/08/23 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
03/13/23 (H) TRB AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
03/13/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/23 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
03/20/23 (H) TRB AT 3:30 PM DAVIS 106
03/20/23 (H) Moved CSHB 26(TRB) Out of Committee
03/20/23 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
03/22/23 (H) TRB RPT CS(TRB) NEW TITLE 5DP
03/22/23 (H) DP: CARPENTER, DIBERT, VANCE, ALLARD,
MCCORMICK
04/14/23 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM ADAMS 519
04/14/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/14/23 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/27/23 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM ADAMS 519
04/27/23 (H) Moved CSHB 26(TRB) Out of Committee
04/27/23 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/28/23 (H) FIN RPT CS(TRB) NEW TITLE 10DP
04/28/23 (H) DP: TOMASZEWSKI, CRONK, ORTIZ,
COULOMBE, STAPP, GALVIN, HANNAN,
JOSEPHSON,
04/28/23 (H) D.JOHNSON, FOSTER
05/03/23 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/03/23 (H) VERSION: CSHB 26(TRB)
05/04/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/04/23 (S) <Pending Referral>
05/05/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/05/23 (S) STA, FIN
05/05/23 (S) STA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE
23
05/06/23 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 17
SHORT TITLE: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
SPONSOR(s): KAWASAKI
01/18/23 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/18/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/23 (S) STA, JUD
04/27/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/27/23 (S) Heard & Held
04/27/23 (S) MINUTE(STA)
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 141 as House Rules Chair.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, District 3
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 26.
MIRANDA WORL, Staff
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for HB 26
on behalf of the sponsor.
KAY LARSON-BLAIR, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
26.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:01:51 AM
CHAIR SCOTT KAWASAKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bjorkman, Wielechowski, Merrick (via
testimony), Claman (via teleconference), and Chair Kawasaki.
HB 141-ESTABLISHING DON YOUNG DAY
9:03:03 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 141
"An Act establishing June 9 of each year as Don Young Day."
9:03:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, stated that this is a Rules Committee bill that was
brought forward for all of Alaska
9:04:12 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reopened public testimony on HB 141; finding
none, he closed public testimony and solicited a motion.
9:04:25 AM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report HB 141, work order 33-LS0669\B,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and HB 141 was reported from
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
HB 26-COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES
9:05:05 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 26(TRB) "An Act relating to the official languages of the
State of Alaska; renaming the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska
Native Languages; and relating to the Council for Alaska Native
Languages."
9:05:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, District 3, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 26, introduced the legislation
paraphrasing the following:
The Alaska Native Language Preservation & Advisory
th
Council was created by the 27 Legislature. The
Governor appointed five voting members, who are
professional language experts and who represent
diverse regions of the state. Additionally, there are
two non-voting members. One member of the Senate,
appointed by the Senate President and one member of
the House, appointed by the Speaker. I have been
fortunate to serve as the non-voting member from the
House in the past legislature.
The Council provides recommendations and advice to
both the Governor and Legislature on programs,
policies, and projects, and to network and advocate in
support of the Council's mission. The mission is to
advocate for the survival and revitalization of Alaska
Native languages through collaboration and sharing for
all.
The bill before you, HB 26, came from the desire of
the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory
Council to do three things, which must be changed in
statute:
1. Shorten the Council name,
2. Expand its membership, and
3. Update the official languages of Alaska list to
include Indigenous languages that were left out.
The few seemingly small changes proposed in HB 26 have
significant meaning to the Council.
The bill proposes a name change, simplifying it from
the "Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory
Council" to the "Council for Alaska Native Languages."
This reflects the goal of sustaining and
reinvigorating Alaska Native languages, a concept that
goes beyond preservation. It also provides a name more
fitting for the diverse range of work that the Council
does.
Another request is to add two new members, from 5 to 7
voting members. Alaska has over 23 distinct languages,
and to be able to be inclusive of more languages the
Council feels two more members would capture a greater
perspective. Adding members allows for greater
representation on the Council and expands the
involvement to reach other regions of the state.
Finally, the bill revises the official list of
languages to include those that were unintentionally
omitted when Alaska Native languages were made co-
official languages of Alaska in 2015. The current list
of 20 Alaska Native languages included in statute is
based on a 1974 map by Dr. Michael Krauss. We now know
from research that there are at least 23 distinct,
Alaska Native languages.
I urge the committee to pass this legislation request
from the Council Gunalchéesh.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY reviewed the material in the bill packets.
9:09:21 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked Ms. Worl to present the sectional analysis.
9:09:37 AM
MIRANDA WORL, Staff, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
presented the sectional analysis for HB 26 on behalf of the
sponsor.
Sectional Analysis
House Bill 26
Section 1: Amends AS 44.12.310(a) to add Cup'ig and
Weta
(Ts'etsa'ut) as official languages of Alaska,
and divide Tanana into the Benhti Kokhwt'ana Kenaga'
(Lower Tanana) and Sahcheeg xut'een xneege' (Middle
Tanana) languages.
Section 2: Amends AS 44.33.520(a) to simplify the name
of the Council from "Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council" to "Council for
Alaska Native Languages."
Section 3: Amends AS 44.33.520(c) by changing voting
members from "five" to "seven."
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that two of the committee members heard the
bill when they served in the other body.
9:10:45 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI turned to invited testimony on HB 26. He
recognized Kay Larson-Blair and read a brief biography.
9:11:53 AM
KAY LARSON-BLAIR, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that she serves on the Alaska Native Preservation and Advisory
Council (ANPAC) and the Cultural Heritage Program Director for
the Bristol Bay Foundation. She also works with elders and
language speakers within the Togiak area of Bristol Bay. She
expressed strong support for HB 26, describing it as a critical
step forward for the state and its diverse communities and
languages. She said Alaska is home to 23 known indigenous
languages which in 2014 were designated the official languages
of Alaska. HB 26 supports language revitalization and
reclamation work and the Council for the Alaska Native Language
can play a critical role in this effort. She said it's important
to understand that there are unique dialects and variations of
each of the languages spoken in communities and regions. The
proposed changes in statute will help preserve cultural heritage
and knowledge for future generations.
MS. LARSON-BLAIR described the importance of language
preservation in combination with revitalization and reclamation.
She pointed out that educators, political leaders, religious
leaders, and the general public actively banished the use of
Native languages until very recently. She encouraged the
committee to support the bill to reflect the Council's diverse
work, its need for more than five voting members, and the
additional three languages not recognized in statute. She said
many of the languages are endangered but they could come back;
they aren't extinct, they're "sleeping." The new name for the
Council reflects its broad scope and important mission to
promote and preserve the many unique Native languages spoken
throughout the state. This will help ensure these languages
receive the support and resources they deserve.
She encouraged the committee to read the priorities the Council
passed two years ago following the governor's state of emergency
declaration. These include standardizing indigenous languages
and public education and establishing pathways for Alaska Native
language teacher certification. She suggested that all teachers
in Alaska should have knowledge of Alaska Native languages,
especially if they're teaching in the state's public schools and
they're working with Alaska Native youth. She urged the
committee to support HB 26 which will help ensure that Alaska's
diverse communities continue to thrive and the state remains a
leader in language preservation and promotion.
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no questions.
9:17:52 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no one in the room or online who wished to
testify and he closed invited and public testimony on HB 26.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
It makes small changes but they're very important to the
Council.
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion.
9:18:31 AM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report HB 26, work order 33-LS0266\B,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
9:18:46 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and CSHB 26(TRB) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
9:19:04 AM
At ease
SB 17-CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
9:20:23 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 17 "An Act relating to
political contributions; and providing for an effective date."
9:20:42 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened invited and public testimony on SB 17;
finding none, he closed public testimony and solicited a motion.
9:20:58 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to report SB 17, work order 33-
LS0183\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
9:21:13 AM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and SB 17 was reported from
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
9:22:24 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kawasaki adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 9:22 a.m.
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