BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 404
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Date of Hearing: May 18, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 404 (Gatto) - As Amended: April 25, 2011
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 17 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the governor to appoint a liaison with
tribal governments and communities whose duties would include
assistance with Native American language preservation. In
addition, this bill creates the California Native American
Language Preservation Fund in the State Treasury for the
acceptance of private donations.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)If the governor creates a new position for someone to serve as
a liaison with tribal governments and communities costs could
exceed $100,000 per year.
2)On-going costs potentially in excess of $100,000 GF for the
Department of Parks and Recreation to provide the equipment
and expertise necessary to assist with the preservation and
archiving of Native American languages.
3)There are no costs associated with the State Controller
creating a new fund in the State Treasury.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . According to the author, AB 404 would facilitate
and coordinate Native American language preservation efforts
around the state via a governor-appointed liaison to tribal
governments and communities. The preservation would be done
in consultation with Native American tribes and tribal
members, and not begin until the liaison is appointed and
there is money available to fund such efforts. The author
AB 404
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maintains that if action is not taken to preserve the
languages of Native Americans, the state faces a huge cultural
loss.
This bill would establish the California Native American
Language Preservation Fund in the State Treasury for the
acceptance of private donations to facilitate statewide
efforts to preserve Native American languages. These efforts
would be coordinated by the governor's liaison to the state's
tribal governments and communities. This bill would also
direct the liaison to prioritize preservation of languages
that are in greatest danger of extinction as well as encourage
scholars in related fields to help with such efforts.
2)Background . California is home to 109 federally recognized
American Indian Tribes, the largest number of Tribal nations
in the United States. There were over 80 distinct indigenous
languages spoken in California prior to contact with European
culture and of these languages, 23 distinct linguistic
families of California are represented. Many of these
languages have become extinct, and many more face extinction
as the few who still have knowledge of the tribal linguistic
traditions are dying. Often, the death of a language can also
mean the loss of an important connection to the past, as the
history and heritage of a tribe is passed from one generation
to the next via oral tradition.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081