CSHB 53(STA): "An Act establishing the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission."
00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 53(STA) 01 "An Act establishing the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 04 to read: 05 FINDINGS. The legislature finds that 06 (1) although the state has made significant improvements in disaster 07 preparedness since the great earthquake of 1964, there has been little corresponding 08 improvement in measures to reduce the disaster potential of major earthquakes and, 09 consequently, to reduce dependence on disaster relief; 10 (2) there is a pressing need to provide a consistent policy framework and a 11 means for continuing coordination of programs and public safety practices related to seismic 12 hazards at all governmental levels and in the private sector; this need is not being addressed 13 by any continuing state government organization; 14 (3) through concerted efforts coordinated by a Seismic Hazards Safety 15 Commission, the state can make long-term progress toward mitigating the effects of seismic
01 hazards on persons and property, thereby reducing the costs of responding to and recovering 02 from major earthquakes. 03 * Sec. 2. AS 44.19 is amended by adding new sections to read: 04 Article 13. Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission. 05 Sec. 44.19.635. Commission established; membership. (a) The Alaska 06 Seismic Hazards Safety Commission is established in the Office of the Governor. The 07 Office of the Governor shall provide staff support to the commission. 08 (b) The commission is composed of nine members appointed by the governor 09 for terms of three years. A member holds office until a successor is appointed. A 10 vacancy is filled for the unexpired term. 11 (c) The governor shall appoint to the commission 12 (1) a representative from the University of Alaska; 13 (2) a representative from local government; 14 (3) a representative from the Department of Natural Resources; 15 (4) a representative from the Department of Military and Veterans' 16 Affairs; 17 (5) a representative from an appropriate federal agency; 18 (6) a representative of the insurance industry; and 19 (7) three members from members of the public who are expert in the 20 fields of geology, seismology, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, structural 21 engineering, emergency services, or planning. 22 (d) The commission shall elect annually from its members a chair and vice- 23 chair. A majority of the commission may vote to replace an officer of the 24 commission. 25 (e) Six members constitute a quorum. 26 (f) Members of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission serve without 27 compensation but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards 28 and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 29 Sec. 44.19.637. Powers and duties. (a) The commission shall 30 (1) recommend goals and priorities for seismic hazard mitigation to the 31 public and private sectors;
01 (2) recommend policies to the governor and the legislature, including 02 needed research, mapping, and monitoring programs; 03 (3) offer advice on coordinating disaster preparedness and seismic 04 hazard mitigation activities of government at all levels, review the practices for 05 recovery and reconstruction after a major earthquake, and recommend improvements 06 to mitigate losses from similar future events; 07 (4) gather, analyze, and disseminate information of general interest on 08 seismic hazard mitigation; 09 (5) establish and maintain necessary working relationships with other 10 public and private agencies; 11 (6) review predictions and warnings issued by the federal government, 12 research institutions, and other organizations and persons and suggest appropriate 13 responses at the state and local levels; and 14 (7) review proposed seismic hazard notifications and supporting 15 information from state agencies, evaluate possible socioeconomic consequences, 16 recommend that the governor issue formal seismic hazard notifications when 17 appropriate, and advise state and local agencies of appropriate responses. 18 (b) The commission may 19 (1) advise the governor and the legislature on disaster preparedness 20 and seismic hazard mitigation and on budgets for those activities and may recommend 21 legislation or policies to improve disaster preparedness or seismic hazard mitigation; 22 (2) conduct public hearings; 23 (3) appoint committees from its membership and appoint external 24 advisory committees of ex-officio members; and 25 (4) accept grants, contributions, and appropriations from public 26 agencies, private foundations, and individuals. 27 Sec. 44.19.639. Definitions. In AS 44.19.635 - 44.19.639, 28 (1) "commission" means the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety 29 Commission; 30 (2) "disaster preparedness" means establishing plans and programs for 31 responding to and distributing funds to alleviate losses from a disaster as defined in
01 AS 26.23.900; 02 (3) "seismic hazard mitigation" or "mitigation" mean activities that 03 prevent or alleviate the harmful effects of seismic hazards to persons and property, 04 including identification and evaluation of the seismic hazards, assessment of the risks, 05 and implementation of measures to reduce potential losses before a damaging event 06 occurs. 07 * Sec. 3. AS 44.66.010(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 08 (20) Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission (AS 44.19.635) -- 09 June 30, 2005. 10 * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 11 read: 12 INITIAL TERMS. Notwithstanding AS 44.19.635, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act, three 13 initial members of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission shall serve terms of two 14 years, and three initial members shall serve terms of four years. 15 * Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 16 read: 17 CONSTRUCTION. This Act is not intended to transfer to the Alaska Seismic 18 Hazards Safety Commission the authorities and responsibilities of other state agencies, 19 boards, councils, or commissions or of local governments.