ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 3, 2020
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harriet Drummond, Co-Chair
Representative Sara Hannan, Co-Chair
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Steve Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Representative Sharon Jackson
Representative DeLena Johnson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 193
"An Act adding a second verse to the official state song."
- MOVED HB 193 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 221
"An Act providing for state recognition of federally recognized
tribes; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 221(TRB) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 193
SHORT TITLE: SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY
01/21/20 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/20
01/21/20 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/20 (H) CRA, STA
02/27/20 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/27/20 (H) Heard & Held
02/27/20 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/03/20 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 221
SHORT TITLE: STATE RECOGNITION OF TRIBES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KOPP
01/27/20 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/27/20 (H) TRB, CRA
02/13/20 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/13/20 (H) Heard & Held
02/13/20 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
02/18/20 (H) TRB AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
02/18/20 (H) Moved CSHB 221(TRB) Out of Committee
02/18/20 (H) MINUTE(TRB)
02/19/20 (H) TRB RPT CS(TRB) 4DP 1NR 1AM
02/19/20 (H) DP: KOPP, LINCOLN, EDGMON, ZULKOSKY
02/19/20 (H) NR: VANCE
02/19/20 (H) AM: TALERICO
02/27/20 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/27/20 (H) Heard & Held
02/27/20 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/03/20 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 193.
SUSAN BEHLKE FOLEY, President
University of Alaska Foundation;
Chief Development Officer
University of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered a brief clarifying comment during
the hearing on HB 193.
KENDRA KLOSTER, Executive Director
Native People's Action
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 221.
KELSEY WALLACE, Communications Director
Native People's Action
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 221.
RONALD LEIGHTON, President
Organized Village of Kaasan
Kaasan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 221.
JUDITH JAMES
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 221.
MARINA ANDERSON, Administrator/Vice President
Organized Village of Kasaan
Kasaan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 221.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:59 AM
CO-CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Community and
Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:04
a.m. Representatives Thompson, Claman, Hannan, and Drummond
were present at the call to order.
HB 193-SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG
8:05:46 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 193, "An Act adding a second verse to
the official state song."
8:06:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 193. She said she was proud of the
students that testified before the committee at the previous
hearing on HB 193. She reviewed some of the points the students
had made about why they support the proposed legislation: It
highlights all cultures in Alaska; it makes people learn more
about history and about Benny Benson, the winner of the Alaska
Flag design contest; and it honors Alaska's indigenous people.
She indicated she knew there was support for the second verse
based on having followed similar legislation about it in the
past. She reminded the committee that HB 193 would not change
the first verse but would simply add to what is already
official. She said there is a letter from the University of
Alaska Foundation showing that it owns the rights to the song
and "they are available for use." The proposed legislation
would not require that the second verse be sung, but would allow
those who want to sing the second verse the ability to do so.
She opined that the second verse "complements the first verse,
tells a more complete story of Alaska, and honors all cultures
here."
8:08:52 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on HB 193.
8:09:07 AM
SUSAN BEHLKE FOLEY, President, University of Alaska Foundation;
Chief Development Officer, University of Alaska, remarked that
the university has no official stance on HB 193 but wants to
maintain its copyright [to the Flag Song].
8:10:06 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND, after ascertaining that there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 193.
8:10:33 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN moved to report [HB 193] out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HB 193 was reported out of the
House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
8:11:01 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:11 a.m. to 8:14 a.m.
HB 221-STATE RECOGNITION OF TRIBES
8:14:55 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 221, "An Act providing for state
recognition of federally recognized tribes; and providing for an
effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 221(TRB).]
8:15:11 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on CSHB 221(TRB).
8:15:23 AM
KENDRA KLOSTER, Executive Director, Native People's Action,
testified in support of HB 221. She said:
Alaska Native people have lived on these lands for
thousands of years. Our cultures are deep within
Alaska history. Tribal governments have held special
recognition and place in Alaska as sovereign
governments providing important services and support,
including public safety, economic development, and
protecting our land and waters. This bill will be
good for not only tribal citizens but for all of
Alaskans. Alaska's home to 229 federally recognized
tribes. This formal relationship was established with
the federal government; however, we have not had any
formal recognition by the State of Alaska. We have to
recognize that in Alaska there is no Alaska without
the indigenous people, and it's time, finally, that
our state government in Alaska formally recognize the
First People of Alaska.
MS. KLOSTER concluded her testimony by stating her appreciation
of the bill sponsor, Representative Kopp, for bringing HB 221
forward and expressing hope that the legislature would support
and pass the proposed legislation.
8:17:13 AM
KELSEY WALLACE, Communications Director, Native People's Action,
testified in support of HB 221. She indicated that she is
testifying as a tribal citizen. She said Native people have
stewarded the land and waters [that make up Alaska] since time
immemorial. Today, tribes provide essential services and
programs, including public safety, economic development, and
education, as well as employment opportunities for people in
rural areas. She opined that HB 221 is long overdue. She added
that she says that "with a smile." She said the proposed
legislation would "open up silos that have been created between
tribal governments and the State of Alaska." She said it will
benefit Alaska as a whole.
8:19:42 AM
RONALD LEIGHTON, President, Organized Village of Kaasan,
testified in support of HB 221. Concurred that it is about time
this legislation took place. Tribal, state, and federal
government is beneficial; it brings in federal funds. He said
he thinks tribes working together benefit from pooling funds.
He congratulated the state "on new reform with this" and
anticipated "better things to come in the state because of this
- both for tribes and the State of Alaska."
8:23:09 AM
JUDITH JAMES testified in support of HB 221. She said as a
student at the University of Alaska, she did a practicum
regarding "the language of the land." She said every tribe in
Alaska is working on healing from historical trauma. She said
she was a drug and alcohol counselor for 7 years. She has
spoken about historical trauma. She said she grew up in the
'60s where in her community "the lights went out at 10 o'clock
and we brought out our oil lamps." She said she tries to give
back to any community in which she has lived. She has been a
member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, among other
organizations. She said she believes that tribal sovereignty
and the State of Alaska go hand in hand. The state is rich in
culture. She thanked the committee.
8:25:58 AM
MARINA ANDERSON, Administrator/Vice President, Organized Village
of Kasaan, offered an introduction in her Native language. Then
she stated, "The tribes in Alaska operate a very heavy and
sustainable economic base for the small areas that surround us."
She indicated that tribal citizens and non-tribal citizens
benefit from "our growing economy." She stated that she thinks
it is important to pass HB 221. She said she thinks there are
opportunities for [tribes and the State of Alaska] to work
together in areas such as natural resources, tribal courts, law
enforcement, education, and the economy.
8:28:23 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND closed public testimony on CSHB 221(TRB).
8:28:38 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN moved to report CSHB 221(TRB) out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSHB 221(TRB) was reported out
of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
8:29:41 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:30 a.m.