ALASKA LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION 2012
By: Senator Bettye Davis To: Education
SENATE BILL NO. _________
To establish the Alaska Juneteenth Alcan Highway State Commission
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT
There is established a commission to be known as the "Alaska Juneteenth Alcan Highway State Commission" (in this bill referred to as the "Commission").
SEC. 2. FINDINGS
The Alaska State Senate finds the following:
(1) Millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American Colonies in the
period 1619 through 1865. The American Colonies determined that economic benefit would be derived from the import of slave
labor and forthwith became an active participant in the "Middle Passage" of American slaves to its shores.
(2) Upon their arrival in North America, Africans were considered chattel and thereby denied the privileges granted to
other immigrants.
(3) Slavery was a grave injustice that caused African Americans to suffer enormous damages and losses, both material and
intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, frustration of careers and professional lives, and the
long-term loss of income and opportunity.
(4) The agricultural resources of any nation are the backbone of its subsistence and for over 250 years, millions of
unnamed Africans and American born black men, women and children provided the free labor that cultivated the fields from
which Americans ate and were clothed, which allowed the dominant population to secure other interests. This is especially
true for Alaska, an agricultural state with a strong historic legacy of slavery.
(5) Slavery in the United States denied African Americans the fruits of their own labor and was an immoral and inhumane
deprivation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, citizenship rights, and cultural heritage. Although the
achievements of African Americans in overcoming the evils of slavery stand as a source of tremendous inspiration, the
successes of slaves and their descendants do not overcome the failure of the Nation to grant their birthright of equality
and the civil rights that safeguard freedom.
(6) Many African American slaves fought as valiant patriots in the wars that helped to preserve our national freedoms,
knowing they would never be privileged to partake of the freedoms for which they fought.
(7) African American art, history, and culture reflect experiences of slavery and freedom, and continued struggles for
full recognition of citizenship and treatment with human dignity, and there is inadequate presentation, preservation, and
recognition of the contributions of African Americans within American society.
(8) There is a great need for building institutions to promote cultural understanding of African American heritage and
further enhance racial harmony in Alaska.
(9) It is proper and timely for the Alaska State Legislature to recognize the "19th of June",
June 19, 1865, "Juneteenth", as the historic day when the last group of slaves were informed of their freedom, to
acknowledge the historic significance of the abolition of slavery, to express deep regret to African Americans, and to
support reconciliation efforts.
(10) It is proper and timely for the Alaska State Legislature to recognize the "28 of October",
October 28, 1942, as the historic day when the Sikanni Chief River Bridge was completed by African American Army engineers
in segregated units, leading the commander in charge, Col. Heath Twichell, to order his white officers to eat with black
enlisted men. This was the first desegregation order in U.S. military history, ultimately leading to the issuing of an executive
order ending segregation in the U.S. military, by President Harry Truman, on July 14, 1948.
SEC. 3. DUTY OF COMMISSION
The Commission shall:
1. Work in cooperation with the Alaska Dept. of Education to develop model curriculum on teaching the history of
slavery to freedom, through Juneteenth and the building of the Alcan Highway by African American Army engineers
in public schools.
2. Work in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Archives and History to educate and promote the history of
slavery to freedom, through Juneteenth, and the building of the Alcan Highway by African American Army engineers throughout
the state.
3. Work in cooperation with the Alaska Development Authority (the economic development and tourism agency for the
state of Alaska) to promote and support tourism and business development of Juneteenth Celebrations and Festivals, including
the Junettenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration of building of the Alcan Highway by African American Army engineers
throughout the state of Alaska.
4. Work in cooperation with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
in the development of scholarly reseach projects, with emphasis on student participation, in the study of the history of
slavery to freedom, through Juneteenth and the building of the Alcan Highway by African American Army engineers
in Alaska.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT
The Commission shall be composed of 7 members appointed from among persons who are not officers or employees of any government, as follows:
(1) 1 member appointed by the Governor
(2) 1 member appointed by the Lt. Governor
(3) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
(4) 1 member appointed by the President of the Senate
(5) 1 member appointed by the Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus (or by the majority of black legislator(s),
or, in the absence of any black legislator(s), by the majority of native alaskan legislator(s))
(6) 1 member appointed by the Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
(7) 1 member appointed by the State Director of the National Juneteenth
Observance Foundation (NJOF)
(b) TERM OF OFFICE
(1) IN GENERAL
Of the members first appointed to the Commission by the Governor, the Chairman of the NJOF and the State Director of the
NJOF, shall serve a term of three years and of the members first appointed by the Speaker of the House, the President of the
Senate and Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus (or by the majority of black legislator(s), or, in the absence of any black
legislator(s), by the majority of native alaskan legislator(s)), shall serve a term of two years, and thereafter all members
shall serve a term of three years.
(2) SPECIAL RULE
A member who is appointed to the Commission who becomes an officer or employee of a government may not continue as
a member.
(c) VACANCIES
A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in
which the original appointment was made.
(d) CHAIRPERSON
The Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected by the members.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR & STAFF
(a) DIRECTOR
The Commission will work in cooperation with the Executive Director of the Alaska Development Authority for the appointment
of a Director of the Commission who will be a staff person of the Alaska Development Authority and whose responsibilities
and duties shall be supervised by the Executive Director of the Alaska Development Authority.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION
(a) MEETINGS
(1) IN GENERAL
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
(2) QUORUM
A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold meetings.
(b) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS
The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA
The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the state of Alaska information necessary to enable it to carry out its duties. Upon request of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
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