00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 83                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission."                                                      
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 44.37.067 is amended to read:                                                                     
04            Sec. 44.37.067.  Powers and duties.  (a)  The commission shall                                             
05                 (1)  recommend goals and priorities for seismic and tsunami hazard                                  
06       mitigation to the public and private sectors;                                                                     
07                 (2)  recommend policies to the governor and the legislature, including                                  
08       needed research, mapping, and monitoring programs;                                                                
09                 (3)  offer advice on coordinating disaster preparedness and seismic and                             
10       tsunami hazard mitigation activities of government at all levels, review the practices                        
11       for recovery and reconstruction after a major earthquake or tsunami, and recommend                            
12       improvements to mitigate losses from similar future events;                                                       
13                 (4)  gather, analyze, and disseminate information of general interest on                                
14       seismic and tsunami hazard mitigation;                                                                        
15                 (5)  establish and maintain necessary working relationships with other                                  

01       public and private agencies;                                                                                      
02                 (6)  review predictions and warnings issued by the federal government,                                  
03       research institutions, and other organizations and persons and suggest appropriate                                
04       responses at the state and local levels; and                                                                      
05                 (7)  review proposed seismic and tsunami hazard notifications and                                   
06       supporting information from state agencies, evaluate possible socioeconomic                                       
07       consequences, recommend that the governor issue formal seismic and tsunami hazard                             
08       notifications when appropriate, and advise state and local agencies of appropriate                                
09       responses.                                                                                                        
10            (b)  The commission may                                                                                      
11                 (1)  advise the governor and the legislature on disaster preparedness                                   
12       and seismic and tsunami hazard mitigation and on budgets for those activities and                             
13       may recommend legislation or policies to improve disaster preparedness or seismic                                 
14       and tsunami hazard mitigation;                                                                                
15                 (2)  conduct public hearings;                                                                           
16                 (3)  appoint committees from its membership and appoint external                                        
17       advisory committees of ex-officio members; and                                                                    
18                 (4)  accept grants, contributions, and appropriations from public                                       
19       agencies, private foundations, and individuals.                                                                   
20    * Sec. 2.  AS 44.37.069(3) is amended to read:                                                                     
21                 (3)  "seismic and tsunami hazard mitigation" or "mitigation" mean                                   
22       activities that prevent or alleviate the harmful effects of seismic and tsunami hazards                       
23       to persons and property, including identification and evaluation of the seismic and                           
24       tsunami hazards, assessment of the risks, and implementation of measures to reduce                            
25       potential losses before a damaging event occurs.                                                                  
26    * Sec. 3.  AS 44.37.069 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                              
27                 (4)  "tsunami" means a large ocean wave produced by an earthquake or                                    
28       undersea volcanic eruption.