Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Internships topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ethics committee approves Sea Alaska internship for shareholders and descendants
Summary
The Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee unanimously approved Sea Alaska Corporation's proposal to sponsor a legislative internship/fellowship for Sealaska shareholders and descendants, aiming to place 2— participants per session and provide living and housing stipends; the program will begin in the 2027 legislative session and will require ethics training and supervisor oversight.
The Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee voted unanimously Nov. 21 to approve an internship proposal from Sea Alaska Corporation that would create an annual legislative fellowship for Sealaska shareholders and descendants.
Charlotte Moore, who introduced the proposal as the internship program coordinator for Sea Alaska, said the program is intended for recent graduates and young professionals to gain hands-on experience in policy and advocacy work during the legislative session. Sea Alaska told the committee it would provide a biweekly living stipend, could provide housing or a housing stipend, and would assist with travel planning or reimbursements. Moore said the program is modeled on existing programs, including the Ted Stevens internship and the First Alaskans Institute fellowship.
Moore described expected duties as attending committee and staff meetings, communicating with constituents, conducting research, helping draft and track legislation under the supervision of legislators, and producing regular written reflections and a post-session presentation to Sea Alaska leadership. Committee staff clarified that interns would not perform functions reserved to legislators and that any work on legislation would occur under a legislator's direction.
Representative Galvin, who raised concerns during the presentation, urged the committee to ensure the program is not framed or used as a partisan lobbying effort. Moore agreed to revise the proposal's language on "advocacy work" to emphasize nonpartisan civic engagement and training. Chair Joyce Anderson and staff noted that interns will be required to complete committee training and that hiring and placement decisions will be coordinated with legislative leadership and the rules chair during session.
Sea Alaska said it would aim to place two to five interns per session and later clarified that the program is intended to begin in the 2027 session. After committee discussion and an amendment to clarify language and training requirements, Carl White moved to approve the internship as presented. Committee staff conducted a roll-call vote; all members present voted in favor. Chair Anderson said Sea Alaska will receive a written approval letter and requested a copy of the presentation for committee files.
Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the Sea Alaska internship was adopted unanimously by roll-call vote during the Nov. 21 meeting. Committee members voting in favor (as recorded in committee roll call) included Senator Stevens, Senator Cronk, Representative Galvin, Representative McCabe, Chair Joyce Anderson, Skip Cook, Connor Thomas, Deb Fancher and Carl White.
What happens next: Sea Alaska will be sent a letter notifying the organization that the internship concept was approved; final placements and hires will require staff coordination and approval by legislative leadership and the rules chair during the session. The committee indicated it expects interns to complete required ethics training before assuming duties.
