HB 154-MUSEUM OF THE NORTH  8:00:28 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced that the only order of business would be HB 154 relating to museums and state repositories. He said he would take public testimony and review the new committee substitute. 8:01:09 AM SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to adopt SCS CSHB 154(EDC), labeled 28- LS0613\R, as the working document. CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes. TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided information about the new CS on behalf of the sponsor. He explained Version R is a departure from the original bill which the committee heard on April 10, 2013. The original bill named the University of Alaska Museum of the North as the official state repository. The new version of the bill recognizes that the official state repository should be the Alaska State Museum and allow, through the regulatory process, other branch museums in the state to be established and designated as state repositories and to qualify for federal monies. The bill improves partnerships among museums throughout the state. 8:03:44 AM ROBERT BANGHART, Deputy Director, Libraries, Archives & Museums, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, testified in favor of HB 154. He explained that when HB 154 was introduced last year, the Alaska State Museum looked at options to improve the integrated structure state museums are in the process of undergoing. The statute that formed the Alaska State Museum years ago designated Juneau as the single body or state repository. Since then, most communities have established a museum or cultural center and the definition of museum has changed. He related that the Alaska State Museum's constituents have requested more inclusion in the process. This piece of legislation defining the Alaska State Museum as the single state museum, as involved with the regulatory process of identifying museology technology and technique, justifying the declaration of repository, and getting that forward to those constituents, will allow small museums to perform their obligations more intensely, apply for grant structures, and become more sustainable. He opined that HB 154 would underscore the Alaska State Museum's role as a leader in museums and cultural centers in the state in the services it provides and allow it to exert more effort specific to communities' needs. The bill would also allow community museums to mature, more reflecting the changes in the industry. He noted the bill is in line with a secondary effort taking place currently with the Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau museums, where three major areas of importance were identified in order to facilitate regional distribution of support and cut costs. He termed the bill another element in maturing an already cooperative and productive relationship. CHAIR STEVENS questioned the timing of the bill, especially as it relates to the Museum of the North. MR. BANGHART indicated if the bill is adopted, the Alaska State Museum would take the regulatory request to the State Board of Education in the fall and then through the public process. He pointed out that the process is slow-moving and looks at the longer term. 8:08:41 AM CHAIR STEVENS asked how many repositories might be developed around the state. MR. BANGHART replied that currently the Alaska State Museum provides services to over 80 museums and cultural centers in the state that can access staff and grant funding. He explained the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) deals with grants and accreditations. However, the Alaska State Museum changed the definition of a museum. Small institutions don't have the economic capacity to meet the obligations set out by AAM, so the Alaska State Museum deleted that criteria from the definition of a museum and works with small institutions on the professional aspects of museology. Federal regulations for the definition of repository list criteria for professional services as the primary obligation and AMA plays a secondary role. The small institutions can meet the professional guidelines and the Alaska State Museum can help the smaller entities to develop. The federal government does not require recognition by AAM, only by some professional group. MR. BANGHART maintained that the Alaska State Museum is on the cutting edge of museology because of its relationship with indigenous cultures and the growth of the state museum process over the past 125 years. 8:11:47 AM SENATOR STEDMAN inquired what effect the bill would have on the Sheldon Jackson Collection in Sitka. MR. BANGHART explained that the Sheldon Jackson Collection is already under the purview of the Alaska State Museum, so there would be no specific effect as a result of the legislation. Operational funds come out of the Alaska State Museum budget. SENATOR STEDMAN reported that he had heard that HB 154 might weaken the state museum system when, in fact, it would strengthen it and provide for a better relationship with outlying museums. MR. BANGHART agreed. He said at first he feared the role of sitting in judgment of other institutions, but the legislation does much to strengthen relationships with, and between, small museums. CHAIR STEVENS thanked Mr. Banghart for his work. 8:13:49 AM KEVIN WINKER, Chief Curator and Acting Director, Museum of the North, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in favor of SB 154. He explained the Museum of the North's goal of retention of important objects in Alaska and to improve competitiveness for federal funding. He opined that this legislation serves those goals well and furthers museum partnerships across the state. CHAIR STEVENS complimented the Museum of the North and the other great state museums. He thanked Mr. Winker for his testimony. 8:15:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 154, testified in support of the new CS. He thanked the committee for the work they have done on the bill. He commented that the bill will help to ensure that the state's artifacts of natural and historical collections are preserved throughout the state. He said he was pleased with the process that allows museums and facilities to apply for designation as repositories. CHAIR STEVENS said there was no public testimony or further comments. 8:16:38 AM SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report SCS CSHB 154(EDC) from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being no objection, the motion carried. 8:16:54 AM At ease