SB 43-SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG  3:48:25 PM CHAIR OLSON announced the first order of business to come before the committee would be SB 43. SENATOR MENARD, sponsor of SB 43, said the bill would add an official second verse to the Alaska Flag Song. SB 43 has a zero fiscal note and will implement something many have wanted for years. She explained that the Alaska Flag Song, written by Juneau resident, Marie Drake, was adopted by the territorial legislature in 1955. Having just had the 50th anniversary of statehood, this would be the appropriate time to add the second verse. Passing SB 43 would be an overdue honor to Carol Beery Davis, who wrote the second verse out of love for Alaska and its Native population in 1987, and pay homage to Benny Benson, who designed the Alaska state flag. 3:52:26 PM CONSTANCE DAVIS, daughter of Carol Beery Davis and Trevor Davis, spoke in support of SB 43. She said her mother [Carol Beery Davis] came to Juneau in 1920, worked as the organ player for silent movies, and became close friends with Elinor Dusenbury and Marie Drake, secretary to the Commissioner of Education. In 1926, the Governor and the American Legion started a contest for school children to create a flag. After choosing the flag, the Commissioner of Education said school children should receive a flag and a copy of the Flag Act. Ms. Drake wrote a jingle that she thought would be more appropriate for children than the Flag Act. Ms. Constance Davis said that recognition of Alaska Natives and Benny Benson, who designed the flag, were left out of the poem at that time. Ms. Drake travelled around the state to introduce the poem to children; the poem was officially recognized by the Legislature in 1955. Ms. Constance Davis explained that Ms. Dusenbury, who had moved back to Omaha but was very homesick for Haines, Alaska, wrote the music to accompany the poem. 3:54:58 PM MS. CONSTANCE DAVIS explained that the second verse recognizes Alaska Natives, especially Benny Benson, the beauty of the land and the progress of Alaska and Alaskans. She explained that the second verse is not a rewrite of the song, but an addition. She noted that not all newcomers learn the song anymore and she would like the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, who owns the copyright, to print sheet music again, with both verses. SENATOR MENARD pointed out that Fran Ulmer, former Mayor of Juneau, and former Lieutenant Governor, has expressed support for the second verse, as has the University of Alaska. MS. DAVIS said the Alaska Youth Choir and conductor, Missouri Smyth, have been singing the second verse when travelling to other countries. CHAIR OLSON asked for clarification that Marie Drake wrote the poem and Elinor Dusenbury wrote the song. MS. CONSTANCE DAVIS replied yes and explained that they worked together though Ms. Dusenbury was in Omaha. 3:58:47 PM MS. CONSTANCE DAVIS said people were talking about a second verse when a friend approached her 95 year old mother [Carol Beery Davis,] who stayed up all night working on it. The second verse was Carol Beery Davis' last gift to the state. CHAIR OLSON asked if Carol Beery Davis was 95 years old in 1987 when she wrote the second verse. MS. DAVIS replied yes. CHAIR OLSON recognized Senator Egan as being in the room. 3:59:59 PM CHAIR OLSON opened public testimony. CONSTANCE MUNRO, representing herself and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp Two, said as a new resident of Alaska, the first legislative activity she attended was the singing of the Alaska Flag Song in 1971. She was "a little stunned" and remarked that she would not sing the song until Alaska Natives were recognized. Carol Berry Davis suggested a contest should be run for a second verse. The Native Coalition of Legislators decided a second verse should be a gift from a non-native, not the product of a contest. 4:02:07 PM MS. MUNRO explained that when she had to leave Alaska in 1985 or 86, she told Carol Beery Davis that she regretted not achieving the gifting of a second verse to Alaska Natives. Carol Beery Davis called Ms. Munro the next morning and said she had a gift [the second verse for the state song.] Members of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood and Alaska Native legislators looked at the second verse. Some testified the first time this piece of legislature was proposed [HB 45 in 2003]. She hopes this legislative body will take the lead and get SB 43 through. 4:04:37 PM MARIE DARLIN, representing herself, said that though it has been tried before, she was glad to see the second verse might actually become law. She feels it really deserves to be official. 4:06:22 PM CHAIR OLSON asked if Senator Egan, as the first state Governor's son, would like to say anything about the second verse being added to the state song. SENATOR EGAN said he was in full support of SB 43. He had talked to former Lieutenant Governor and former Juneau mayor, Fran Ulmer, about the second verse. The Juneau assembly passed a resolution in support of the second verse years ago. CHAIR OLSON asked what Senator Egan's dad would say about the second verse being added to the state song. SENATOR EGAN said he would be in favor of it and that his mother, who is 95 years old, still sings the first verse every day and is slowly learning verse two. 4:08:41 PM SENATOR KOOKESH recognized Ms. Monro's dedication over the years. He said he is an Alaska Native and a lifelong resident and was disappointed to see this legislation fail previously. He was a member of the House and then the Senate when majorities in those bodies would not adopt a bill with the words "Alaska Native" or the word "tribe." For the first time in history, two bills were passed in 2009 with the words "tribe" and "Alaska Native." He said the state seal has no depiction of an Alaska Native. This is a great step in the right direction and he hoped SB 43 would pass. SENATOR THOMAS moved to report SB 43 from committee with individual recommendations. 4:10:41 PM At Ease 4:12:15 PM CHAIR OLSON said the motion needed to be restated. SENATOR THOMAS moved to report SB 43 to the next committee of referral with individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note. Without objection, it was so ordered. ^FAIRBANKS ANNEXATION, LEGISLATIVE REVIEW    4:12:34 PM SENATOR THOMAS requested that the Senate Community and Regional Affairs committee hold hearings on the local boundary commission's December 10th, 2009 approval of the annexation of several parcels of property in the Fairbanks area.