HB 47-COUNCIL FOR ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES  3:39:28 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 47 "An Act renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; and relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages." He noted that this was the first hearing. 3:40:30 PM At ease 3:42:54 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting. 3:43:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 47, stated that the Alaska Native Language Preservation Advisory Council, of which she is a member, supports shortening the Council's name and expanding its membership. HB 47 seeks to make these changes. She continued the introduction speaking to the following sponsor statement: House Bill 47 Renaming the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for Alaska Native Languages; and relating to the Council for Alaska Native Languages House Bill 47 reflects a request from the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council to change its name to the "Council for Alaska Native Languages." This change would shorten the Council's name while emphasizing the Council's broader focus, which includes more than just language preservation. In fact, the statute establishing the Council, AS 44.33.520, states the purpose of the Council is to recommend "the establishment or reorganization of programs to support the preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages." The Council also requests an increase in membership from 5 to 7 members in recognition of the diversity of Alaska Native languages in the state (there are at least 20 Native languages in Alaska). This allows for greater language representation on the Council and increases the involvement of a great number of native language speakers from different regions of the state. 3:45:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY noted that the bill packets included the biennial report from the Council to the governor and legislature and said her office would provide the 2022 update. She thanked the committee for its consideration of HB 47 and noted who was available to go over the sectional analysis and answer questions. CHAIR SHOWER said he didn't believe it was necessary to go over the sectional analysis or the fiscal note, which was minimal. He turned to invited testimony. 3:47:41 PM NICHOLE THAM, Operations Manager, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that she didn't have prepared testimony, but was available to answer questions. SENATOR COSTELLO referenced the report in the bill packet that lists the 20 Alaska Native languages and the estimated number of highly proficient speakers in the state. She asked what the Council does in the situation where no proficient speakers have been identified in the state. 3:48:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY apologized that there were no council members available to answer that question, and committed to ensure the committee received an answer. She added that the goal is to preserve and revitalize these 20 languages, each of which has its own depth and teachings. 3:49:38 PM CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on HB 47; finding none, he closed public testimony. He asked the sponsor if she had final comments. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked the committee to look at the report and its specific recommendations. She noted that it gave her pause to learn about the number of language speakers that had been lost to COVID-19 when there were already so few fluent speakers. It is clear that time is of the essence, she said. 3:50:54 PM CHAIR SHOWER held HB 47 in committee.