HB 154-MUSEUM OF THE NORTH  8:44:03 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 154. [CSHB 154(EDC) was before the committee.] 8:44:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, sponsor of HB 154, explained that it is an Act relating to natural history and cultural history repositories. The bill revises statutes governing the University of Alaska by adding a new section that designates the Museum of the North as a repository of state natural and cultural history collections and gives the university the authority to designate other repositories, as needed. He related that the bill also defines the purpose and functions of a repository. The Museum of the North collection includes more than 1.4 million artifacts and specimens, representing millions of years of biological diversity and thousands of years of cultural traditions, as well as crucial resources for research. Designating the Museum of the North as a repository will help ensure that the historical collections remain available to researchers, students, Alaska citizens and others with an interest in natural and cultural history. 8:45:53 AM CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were other museums in the state that might be included in the bill. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON responded that it has been considered. He deferred to his staff to explain further. 8:46:17 AM LYNETTE BERGH, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska State Legislature, provided information related to HB 154. She said there are currently no other museums that can be designated as a repository because they do not fit the definition given in HB 154, which is very specific about the requirements. CHAIR STEVENS asked what the requirements were. MS. BURGH replied that museum required the following: To qualify for designation as a repository, a facility must be a museum, archeological center, laboratory, or storage facility managed by the state, a municipal government, a tribe, or an educational or scientific institution able to provide long-term professional, systematic, accountable curatorial services. SENATOR GARDNER asked if the bill creates this concept in statute. MS. BURGH replied that the term repository had not been defined in statute. The Museum of the North is considered by educators and the university as a repository since it houses historical and cultural collections. To meet the federal guidelines in order to procure grants and funding, defining it as an official state repository would be necessary. 8:48:21 AM SENATOR GARDNER stated that it is a wonderful idea. She inquired if the museum in Unalaska would qualify. MS. BURGH explained that the statute is specific to the university system. SENATOR GARDNER asked about page 1, line 14, where it says a facility must be managed by the state, a municipal government, a tribe, or an educational or scientific institution. She asked if that meant management, as opposed to ownership. MS. BURRS replied that the Museum of the North is managed by the university. SENATOR GARDNER asked if the museum in Unalaska would qualify. MS. BURGH deferred to Mr. Winker to answer. KEVIN WINKER, Chief Curator and Acting Director, University of Alaska Museum of the North, provided information related to HB 154. He suggested Linda Thibodeau answer Senator Gardner's question. He noted that the museum in Unalaska is not part of the university system. 8:51:01 AM LINDA THIBODEAU, Director, Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), answered questions related to HB 154. She explained the bill includes university repositories only. Other repositories could be included if they met the criteria of the bill, but it would have to be through a different statute. SENATOR GARDNER asked what the benefits of being designated a repository are. She wondered if it was just to be able to receive grants and funding. MS. THIBODEAU deferred to the sponsor to answer. She opined that Senator Gardner was correct. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied that the intent is to ensure that the biological and cultural items are preserved and kept available for researchers, students, and the public. 8:53:14 AM MS. BURCH concurred with Representative Thompson. She added that as the collections continue to grow the sponsor would like to ensure that the museum is able to preserve them. SENATOR GARDNER shared her recollection of the Sealaska Heritage Institute. She suggested being designated a repository might help them receive funding and ensure the preservation of their artifacts. She thought that other facilities might also benefit by being repositories. CHAIR STEVENS agreed that it should be looked into. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON noted that HB 154 changes the statues governing the university. Currently, they are not able to receive grants and the legislation would change that. CHAIR STEVENS held HB 154 in committee.