00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 233                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to religious services during disasters; and providing for an effective                                 
02 date."                                                                                                                  
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 26.23.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                             
05 (l)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the governor issues                                        
06 an order, proclamation, or regulation under this chapter that designates any service or                                 
07 activity as essential, the order, proclamation, or regulation must also designate                                       
08       religious services as essential.                                                                                  
09    * Sec. 2. AS 26.23.040(a) is amended to read:                                                                        
10 (a)  The Alaska division of homeland security and emergency management                                                  
11 shall prepare and maintain a state emergency plan and keep the plan [IT] current. If                                
12 the plan designates any service or activity as essential, the plan must also                                          
13       designate religious services as essential. The plan may include provisions for                                  
14                 (1)  prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by                                         

01       disasters;                                                                                                        
02                 (2)  prompt and effective response to disasters;                                                        
03                 (3)  emergency relief;                                                                                  
04                 (4)  identification of geographical areas, municipalities, cities, and                                
05       [OR] villages especially vulnerable to a disaster;                                                                
06                 (5)  recommendations for                                                                                
07                      (A)  zoning, building, and other land use controls;                                                
08                      (B)  safety measures for securing mobile homes or other                                            
09            nonpermanent or semi-permanent structures; and                                                               
10 (C)  other preventive and preparedness measures designed to                                                             
11            eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;                                                               
12 (6)  assistance to local officials in designing local emergency action                                                  
13       plans;                                                                                                            
14 (7)  authorization and procedures for the construction of temporary                                                     
15       works designed to protect against or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from a disaster;                            
16                 (8)  organization of manpower and chains of command;                                                    
17                 (9)  coordination of federal, state, and local disaster activities;                                     
18 (10)  coordination of the state emergency plan with the disaster plans of                                               
19       the federal government; and                                                                                       
20                 (11)  other matters necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.                                
21    * Sec. 3. AS 26.23.060(e) is amended to read:                                                                        
22 (e)  Each political subdivision shall ensure that a written local or                                                    
23 interjurisdictional disaster emergency plan for its area is prepared, maintained, and                                   
24       distributed to all appropriate officials. The disaster emergency plan must                                        
25 (1)  include a clear and complete statement of the emergency                                                          
26       responsibilities of all local agencies and officials;                                                           
27 (2)  designate religious services as essential if the plan designates                                                 
28       any other service or activity as essential.                                                                     
29    * Sec. 4. AS 26.23.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                                 
30 (10)  "religious services" means rituals, worship, counseling, or                                                       
31       ceremonies performed as part of religious observation or by a religious leader.                                   

01    * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).