SB 40-HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH  3:19:49 PM CHAIR CARRICK announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 40 "An Act establishing the period between September 15 and October 15 of each year as Hispanic Heritage Month." 3:20:15 PM DEIRDRE GOINS, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Senator Gray-Jackson, prime sponsor, introduced SB 40. She said that designating September 15 October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in state law recognizes and celebrates Alaska diversity. She further talked about celebrating diversity and inclusivity. She noted that the committee file includes a support letter with hundreds of signatures from the Latino community. 3:21:54 PM CHAIR CARRICK opened public testimony on SB 40. 3:22:12 PM DORA WILSON, representing self, testified in support of SB 40. She noted that she has been a therapeutic foster parent for the last 21 years serving over 50 youth, as well as a community outreach manager and volunteer for various non-profit boards. To her knowledge, she is the first Latina to serve on the Anchorage School Board. She said 7.7 percent of Alaska's population is Latino. The Anchorage School District is the most diverse in the country with over 100 languages. She said recognizing this month encourages "greater participation in civic and economic life." 3:24:24 PM CISCO MERCADO, representing self, testified in support of SB 40. As a Latino American, he emphasized the importance of younger kids learning about cultural heroes and the impact that Latino Americans have had on Alaska history. He said that some people want to whitewash history and downplay the significance of Latinos. He said that Latinos should be celebrated. 3:25:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND expressed curiosity about the dates of mid-September to mid-October and asked why this period was chosen. MS. GOINS replied that this was intentional as multiple Latin American countries share an Independence Day on September 15. 3:27:12 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:27 p.m. to 3:28 p.m. 3:28:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY, following up on Representative Hollands question, asked for further explanation regarding the September 15 date. MS. GOINS elaborated on the countries currently celebrating National Hispanic Month and offered to provide a list to the committee. CHAIR CARRICK named the following countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. 3:29:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked why the month of September was not chosen instead of the middle of the month. MS. GOINS answered that the proposed date range would align with the federally recognized dates. REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked Ms. Goins for the clarification and said that she had heard from her constituents that they are in support of this month. 3:30:21 PM CHAIR CARRICK, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 40. CHAIR CARRICK announced that SB 40 was held over.