SB 130 Summary

• Establishes the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council within the state department to recommend programs supporting preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages.

• Council comprises five voting members who are professional language experts representing diverse regions, plus one nonvoting senator and one nonvoting representative (preferably from the bush caucus if it exists).

• Council must meet at least twice annually, advise the governor and legislature on cost-effective language preservation programs and policies, and submit reports of findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature by January 1 of each even-numbered year.

• Members serve without compensation but receive per diem and travel expenses; department staff supporting the council must demonstrate competency in an Alaska Native language.

• Governor must appoint voting members by December 1, 2012, with the first council report due by July 1, 2014.