SB 110-MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION GRANTS  4:28:31 PM CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 110 "An Act establishing the museum construction and major expansion matching grant program; and providing for an effective date." 4:28:59 PM SALLY RAFSON, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 110 on behalf of the sponsor. She read the following sponsor statement: [Original punctuation provided.] SB 110  Sponsor Statement "An Act establishing the museum construction and major expansion matching grant program; and providing for an effective date." Alaska has a rich culture and history that is worth being shared with both residents and visitors to our state. Museums are instrumental in sharing our history and preserving our culture. A fund already exists in statute under AS 14.56.355 that provides grant funding to libraries; if enacted, SB 110 would create a similar fund to aid museums around the state in their growth and revitalization. Not only do museums play a vital role in educating the public about our history, they also act as a gathering places for the community and contribute to our economy. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the American Alliance of Museums, surveyed museums of Alaska had a financial impact of $114 million on the economy and served over 22,000 K-12 students. According to the American Alliance of Museums, museums and other nonprofit cultural organizations return more an $5 in tax revenues for every $1 they receive in funding from all levels of government. Many precious cultural artifacts are waiting to be displayed in buildings that need repairs and infrastructure updates. To adequately store and display current and future artifacts, museums need funding opportunities to do so. Alaska has over 100 museums and cultural centers located throughout the state. Recent surveys have shown that more than half of Alaska's museums and cultural centers anticipate undertaking major capital improvement projects in the next five years. I urge your support of SB 110 in order to help make such projects possible. 4:31:10 PM SENATOR STEVENS stated that Alaska has done a remarkable job with libraries. He attributed that to the legislature having the library association maintain a list of project priorities in need of funding. He asked whether a similar organization exists for museums. 4:31:55 PM MS. RAFSON suggested the Director of Museums Alaska answer the question. 4:32:16 PM SENATOR KIEHL asked if a museum must do all of the items listed in the major expansion plan outlined in SB 110 in order to qualify for a grant. MS. RAFSON stated her belief that in order to qualify for a grant a museum would only need to do one item. She suggested other testifiers could elaborate. 4:33:02 PM SENATOR KIEHL said he would like clarification. MS. RAFSON said testifiers would discuss the projects for their museums. 4:33:37 PM CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 110. 4:34:01 PM DIXIE CLOUGH, Director, Museums Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 110. She said many of Alaska's museums are located in "hand-me-down" buildings that present various problems. She said about 66 percent of museums have plans for infrastructure projects or rebuilds. Alaska Native tribes have plans for about 10 new museums or cultural centers. There are also plans to create children's museums. There is no unbiased mechanism to fund museums. Funding currently occurs through the Capital Project Submission and Information System (CAPSIS) which requires support from the legislature and can be vetoed by the governor. Having a matching grant program makes the process efficient, transparent and equitable because a panel would decide project funding based on a score mechanism. 4:36:01 PM MS. CLOUGH discussed amendments attached to her support letter which included: • Adding "Major Renovation" to the title and anywhere in the bill that says, "construction and expansion." • Removing the list that specifies projects as it may create unnecessary limitations of grant use. • Change the eligibility criteria from 20 percent to 50 percent matching funds. 4:37:05 PM MS. CLOUGH said the library matching grant fund exists in statue only. She said as far as she is aware a program for the fund has not been created. 4:37:56 PM EMILY EDENSHAW, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 110. The Native Heritage Center has operated for 20 years. Alaska does not spend any money on cultural tourism which matters because museums are places of learning and allow people to connect with who they are. She mentioned that marketing dollars primarily help businesses. The Native Heritage Center has a responsibility to work with every Native cultural group in Alaska, but it is difficult to keep up. Native organizations have reached out to her stating they want to offer cultural centers in their communities. She said this is the third time a bill requesting support for museums has come before the legislature. Museums throughout Alaska are underfunded and SB 110 is a chance to right that wrong. 4:42:21 PM ANGELA LINN, Senior Collections Manager, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 110. She stated that she represents her own opinions and not the University of Alaska. The Museum of the North was renovated and expanded 20 years ago through a combination of private, state, and federal funds. The building, however, was built in the 1980's and has maintenance and expansion needs. She expounded on the number and types of artifacts in the museum's collection to illustrate the need for funding and preservation. 4:46:00 PM CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 110. 4:46:55 PM GREGORY STEWART, Director of Grants, Alaska Native Heritage Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 110. He said the bill is valuable for museums in Alaska which are important to Native and non-Native residents. At the core of museums is education for both locals and visitors. Museums teach what it means to be Alaskan. The ability for museums to access state money would be impactful. He said there are grant opportunities that require matching funds but all too often he has been unable to obtain assistance from the state. 4:49:21 PM VIRGINIA HATFIELD, Executive Director, Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska, Alaska, testified in support of SB 110. She said the Museum of the Aleutians was build 25 years ago to meet the mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich cultural legacy of the region. To meet the needs of the community the museum needs to expand, as it collects hundreds of items every year. The museum's strategic plan includes expansion. The museum is also offering more services and needs room for staff. Alaska museums face clear and urgent facility issues. SB 110 would help address issues such as installing heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) systems, repairing leaking roofs, and installing security systems to preserve and protect artifacts. 4:51:50 PM TANIA CLUCUS, Executive Director, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of SB 110. Although not technically a museum, since 2008 approximately two million people have visited the center. The center offers activities and cultural education presentations similar to museums. She said she has encountered the same problem as museums and is unable to obtain matching funds to qualify for grants. SB 110 would make receiving state matching funds a possibility. She said the center does not have enough reserve funds to fix items such as the parking lot. The center was built from federal, state, and private donations which the center continues to seek support from. Passing SB 110 will provide a mechanism to maintain museums in the state. 4:54:12 PM CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 110. 4:54:19 PM MS. RAFSON said she intends to request a committee substitute containing the amendments Ms. Clough discussed. 4:54:37 PM CHAIR TOBIN held SB 110 in committee.