HB 24-LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES  3:18:37 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 24, "An Act relating to instruction in a language other than English; and relating to limited teacher certificates." 3:18:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 24, labeled 31-LS0290\K, Caouette, 2/27/20, as the working document. 3:19:16 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ objected for the purpose of discussion. 3:19:29 PM ERIN HARRINGTON, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Kreiss- Tomkins, prime sponsor, explained the changes to HB 24 proposed under Version K, which replaces Version M. She paraphrased from a document provided in the committee packet, entitled "Explanation of Changes, Version M to Version K," which read as follows: Version K replaces version M, which was previously adopted in the House Labor and Commerce Committee. Version M incorporated language related to changes to the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council (ANLPAC). These changed the council's name to the Council for Alaska Native Languages and increased the number of seats on the council from five to seven. Version K leaves the changes related to ANLPAC in place but reorganizes the remainder of the bill having to do with limited language immersion teacher certificates. Whereas earlier versions of the bill repealed and replaced existing statute AS 14.25.025, version K retitles the bill and creates the authorities related to immersion language certificates in a new statute, AS 14.25.023, limited language immersion teacher certificates. Corresponding changes to the name of the certificate are made throughout Section 1 of version K. Other than the changes to the certificate name: ? Subsections (a) through (e) are identical in substance to version M. ? A new subsection (f) creates a 5-year limit on the limited language immersion certificate for teachers certified to teach in world language immersion programs. Sections 2 through 4 are unchanged from the previous version. 3:22:19 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ removed her objection. There being no further objection, Version K was adopted as the working document. 3:22:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN opined that the ultimate inspiration for HB 24 is to seek an avenue for the growth and preservation of Alaska Native language speakers. She expressed her hope that the state will provide funding to support districts who choose to offer full language immersion programs to encourage the growing diversity of language opportunities for young people in Alaska. 3:24:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-THOMKINS, Alaska State Legislature, noted that this is the first concrete step in terms of policy change that the state will be making as an offensive move against language endangerment and extinction. He said it means a lot to him and to many Alaskans. 3:26:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES moved to report CSHB 24, Version LS0290\K, Caouette, 2/27/20, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection, CSHB 24(L&C) was moved from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.