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                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
                     IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
                    THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
 BY SENATOR STEVENS
 Introduced: 1/30/26
 Referred: Education, State Affairs
                                        A RESOLUTION
1  Establishing a legislative commission to review and make recommendations to the
2  legislature relating to the official state seal.
3  BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
4WHEREAS, following the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, the first governor
5  of the District of Alaska designated an official seal for the district featuring icebergs, northern
6  lights, igloos, and ice fishing; and
7WHEREAS, in 1910, the seal was redesigned, and the new seal was retained through
8  Alaska's territorial days up to statehood, when it became the official state seal; and
9WHEREAS the state seal reflects Alaska at one point in time and places significant
10 emphasis on western exploration, resource extraction, and agricultural activity while
11 excluding other values held by many in the state today; and
12WHEREAS review and reconsideration of the state seal to adequately reflect the
13 state's original inhabitants, Alaska Native cultures, and contemporary themes serves an
14 important public purpose; and
15WHEREAS it is timely and appropriate to reimagine the symbol that represents the
16 state values of justice and perseverance in a manner that honors the shared heritage of the
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1  people of the state and respects the Native people of Alaska;
2BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Legislative Commission
3  to Review the State Seal of Alaska is established as a joint commission of the Alaska State
4  Legislature for the purposes of
5(1) evaluating the current official seal of the state, including those features that
6  may be harmful to or misunderstood by residents of the state and citizens of the world;
7(2) recommending changes to the official seal of the state, including preparing
8  draft legislation necessary to carry out the recommendations of the commission, so that the
9  official seal might better represent the historical and contemporary commitment of the people
10 of the state to peace, justice, liberty, and equality;
11(3) making recommendations to the legislature relating to the design and
12 content of an educational program concerned with the history and meaning of the official seal
13 of the state;
14(4)    submitting recommendations and accompanying materials to the
15 legislature in a report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives
16 on or before May 14, 2027, along with a summary of the commission's work, findings, and
17 recommendations, and notifying the members of the legislature that the report is available;
18 and
19(5)   making its report available to the public on the legislature's Internet
20 website; and be it
21FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission consists of 14 members who, except
22 for those set out in (1) - (3) of this clause, shall be appointed jointly on the basis of their
23 cultural and historical expertise by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
24 representatives as follows:
25(1) three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of
26 the house of representatives, including one member of the minority organizational caucus;
27(2) three members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate,
28 including one member of the minority organizational caucus;
29(3) the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant governor's designee;
30(4) one member representing the Alaska State Council on the Arts;
31(5) one member representing the Alaska Humanities Forum;
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1(6) one member representing the Alaska Historical Society;
2(7) one member representing the University of Alaska;
3(8) one member representing the Rasmuson Foundation;
4(9) one member representing the First Alaskans Institute;
5(10) one student enrolled in good standing at a public high school who will be
6  in the student's senior year on the date of the first meeting of the commission; and be it
7FURTHER RESOLVED that
8(1) the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives
9  shall jointly appoint the chair of the commission from among the legislative members of the
10 commission;
11(2) commission members shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the
12 effective date of this resolution;
13(3) the commission shall meet at the call of the chair;
14(4) a majority of the commission constitutes a quorum;
15(5) the commission may meet and vote telephonically and by videoconference;
16(6) a vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the
17 original selection or appointment;
18(7) the commission may request data and other information from state and
19 legislative agencies; and be it
20FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff of the legislator who chairs the commission
21 shall provide administrative and other support to the commission; and be it
22FURTHER RESOLVED that, to fund its work, the commission
23(1) shall seek, accept, and use grants or gifts of money and professional,
24 consulting, clerical, or other services and supplies from the federal government and other
25 public and private sources; and
26(2) may accept appropriations from the legislature; and be it
27FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the commission serve without
28 compensation but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses; and be it
29FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission expires on May 14, 2027, unless two-
30 thirds of the members vote that an extension is necessary to complete the work of the
31 commission, in which case, the commission expires upon completion of its work or on
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1 June 30, 2027, whichever occurs first.
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