SB 137-EXTEND SEISMIC HAZARDS SAFETY COMMISSION  2:29:28 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the next order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 137, "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission; and providing for an effective date." 2:29:43 PM BRITTANY HUTCHISON, Staff, Senator Click Bishop, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 137 on behalf of Senator Bishop. She paraphrased from the sponsor statement, which read: Alaska has more earthquakes than any other region in the U.S. and is one of the most seismically active areas in the world. In fact, we are approaching the th 50 anniversary of the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, the most powerful in recorded North American history. Given the historical record and inevitable potential of future earthquake activity, Alaska needs the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission. The ASHSC is statutorily designated as an advisory body for seismic hazard safety mitigation. The ASHSC's overarching purpose is to analyze and disseminate information, review predictions and proposed warnings, and to provide recommendations for seismic safety mitigation. I would like to see the termination date of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission (ASHSC) extended from June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2020. According to the Division of Legislative Audit, the commission has a demonstrated public need and therefore the termination date should be extended. The public need is proven and the public interest is served in the following ways: 1) The commission assists with seismic hazard safety training efforts. For example, in 2011 and 2012, the ASHSC coordinated with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to facilitate training workshops for volunteer first responders who would respond after a severe earthquake. 2) They hope to significantly improve school safety by collaborating with the Department of Education and Early Development on seismic issues concerning school construction and renovations. Seismic hazard mitigation efforts for schools are an important commission priority, as schools are critical infrastructure. 3) The ASHSC served the public's interest by making seismic hazards mitigation recommendations to the governor, legislature and private entities through annual reports. 4) The commission helps facilitate collaboration amongst agencies with related missions and private sector entities on seismic hazard mitigation. 2:31:53 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER opened public testimony. 2:32:07 PM ROBERT SCHER, Chair, Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, explained that the commission was, effectively, an advisory body charged with recommending goals and priorities to mitigate seismic hazards. He stated that the commission would recommend policies for research, mapping, and monitoring, while reviewing practices of recovery and reconstruction after a major earthquake, and to recommend improvements to mitigate loss in similar future events. He noted that the commission also gathered, analyzed, and disseminated information of general interest, on behalf of the Legislature, the governor, local governments, and the public and private sector. He declared that this was an eclectic body of volunteers, comprised of geologists, the State of Alaska seismologist, civil and structural engineers, emergency responders, and the insurance industry. He shared that he was a civil, geo-technical engineer. He directed attention to the recent Division of Legislative Audit report that the commission functioned in the best interest of the state and the public. He expressed his desire for the commission to be extended for an additional six years, and he assured the committee that some projects were already underway, and others were considered, for this future period. He directed attention to the commission's Annual Report to the Governor and State Legislature for 2013 [Included in members' packets] which included the most recent strategic plan, as well as two letters of support for proposed SB 137. He assured the committee that the commission was always available for consultation and assistance with matters related to earthquakes and tsunamis. 2:34:58 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER pointed out the fiscal note of $10,000. 2:35:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI directed attention to the fourth bullet point in the Executive Summary from Mr. Scher, which accompanied the aforementioned annual report, and read: "Amend State regulations to assure seismic knowledge of registered civil and structural engineers." He asked how frequently these building codes for seismic hazards were updated. MR. SCHER explained that the current regulations were adopted from the International Building Code (IBC), which was issued every three years. In 2012, the state had adopted the current regulations, which were the 2009 IBC. He reported that one policy recommendation and a position paper were currently being prepared for future legislation. He pointed out that the 2012 IBC was released within months of the state adopting the 2009 code, and the commission was pursuing legislation to make adoption of the building codes timelier, as it currently lagged the state of practice in engineering and building construction by 6-8 years. He pointed to changes from the 2009 IBC to the 2012 code, which were "particularly applicable in Alaska." He reported that he was preparing a suggestion to use the 2012 code within the context of the 2009 code for all new public buildings and public schools. 2:38:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR asked if the commission had participated in any of the recent 1964 earthquake anniversary events, and if there should be more coordinated, communitywide training events in the future. MR. SCHER responded with agreement that the training events would be a good strategy, and this would be addressed at the coming face-to-face commission meeting. He shared that many of commission members were involved in the recent anniversary events, and would be reporting on these to the commission. CO-CHAIR SADDLER closed public testimony. 2:41:03 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE moved to report SB 137, labeled 28-LS1318\A, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, SB 137 was reported from the House Resources Standing Committee.