HB 197-EXTEND SEISMIC HAZARDS SAFETY COMMISSION  1:14:24 PM CO-CHAIR TARR announced the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 197, "An Act extending the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission; and providing for an effective date." 1:14:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK, speaking as the sponsor of HB 197, said the bill would extend the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission through 6/30/28. Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions on Earth and has a history of very large and damaging earthquakes; last month the Alaska Earthquake Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, reported in 2019 Alaska experienced 50,289 earthquakes. So far in 2020, Alaska has experienced 3,131 earthquakes. In order to ensure the safety of Alaskans and Alaska's infrastructure, since 2001 the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission (ASHSC) has provided recommendations to mitigate seismic hazards by gathering and disseminating information on earthquakes to state and local governmental agencies and policymakers; in addition, ASHSC facilitates training on how to assess structures after an earthquake. The bill includes an immediate effective date because the current authorization expires [6/30/20]. Representative Tuck pointed out the attached fiscal note - identifier: HB 197-DNR-DGGS-1- 31-2020 - totals $10,000 per year for support that is not provided by volunteers. Included in the committee packet was Audit Control Number 10-20117-19, which specifically recommended the extension of ASHSC through 2028. He concluded Alaska is threatened by earthquakes every day and ASHSC plays a key role to prepare the public and private sectors for future earthquakes. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked when the commission was formed. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK said in 2001. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether commissions are required by statute to have a sunset date. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK said yes, and also a sunset audit. He added performance audits seek to ensure the commission continues to perform as intended. CO-CHAIR TARR opined performance audit reports are presented in legislative committees, so the audit becomes part of the public record. 1:19:27 PM KRIS CURTIS, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division, Legislative Agencies and Offices, informed the committee she is responsible for the Legislative Audit Division which audits the state's financial statements and prepares the state's federal audit, the results of which are reported to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. She said testimony before [standing and special legislative committees] usually pertains to a sunset audit or a performance audit related to legislation. Ms. Curtis stated her office conducted a sunset audit of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission in March 2019; the purpose of a sunset audit is to determine whether a board or commission is serving its public policy need and should be extended. Not all boards and commissions have a sunset provision and not all boards and commissions with a sunset date in legislation are subject to audit. She reviewed the mission of ASHSC: To help reduce disaster potential of major earthquakes and to reduce the dependence on disaster relief. The audit concluded there is a public policy need for the commission and recommended an eight- year extension, which is the maximum allowed by statute. On page 9 of the audit was a schedule of annual expenditures ranging from $3,517 in fiscal year 2018 (FY 18) to $13,043 in FY 17 and she noted ASHSC expenditures are a relatively low cost method to leverage the highly skilled expertise of volunteers. Beginning on page 12 was a schedule of commission activities that indicated the commission was very active during the audit period; she pointed out ASHSC helped secure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants used by school districts to assess their facilities. Beginning on page 14 was a description of ASHSC's role following the 11/30/18 earthquake: provided a list of certified evaluators to inspect structures; helped coordinate damage assessments with state agencies; assisted FEMA to create a damage report and recommendations for future preparedness. Beginning on page 16 the audit made two recommendations for administrative improvements: • Commission chair should ensure proper procedures to provide public notice for meetings • Commission chair should ensure strategic plan update MS. CURTIS said beginning on page 27 were responses to the audit: 1) The office of the governor did not comment on whether the ASHSC should be extended; 2) The commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources agreed there is a continuing need for the commission; 3) The ASHSC chair agreed with the audit findings and recommendations and has taken action. 1:24:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN pointed out the [11/30/18] earthquake motivated discussion and forthcoming legislation related to statewide residential building codes and building standards; she asked whether ASHSC is positioned to make recommendations on seismic risk in this regard. MS. CURTIS expressed her belief ASHSC has made recommendations to the [Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (licensing board)] that in order to obtain licensing an applicant would be required to have certain professional education in building codes. 1:25:46 PM STERLING STRAIT, Chair, ASHSC, Office of the Governor, Boards and Commissions, informed the committee ASHSC studied reports from many entities following the 11/30/18 earthquake that have raised the building code issue; at this time, ASHSC is drafting recommendations on specific improvements to building codes at the state and local levels. Previously, ASHSC made recommendations to the licensing board to add a seismic education requirement for licensed architects and engineers because an understanding of seismic data would encourage more appropriate design. 1:26:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN questioned whether professional licensing and education on seismic data is required of residential contractors, in addition to architects and engineers. MR. STRAIT said to his knowledge there are no requirements of seismic education for building contractors; ASHSC recommendations apply to licenses of architects and engineers. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS recalled [FY 20] capital funding for the [USArray, National Science Foundation] was vetoed, and is now included in the FY 21 budget; he asked whether ASHSC uses data from USArray to locate earthquakes. MR. STRAIT said yes; data from USArray centers locates seismic risks in Alaska, gives ASHSC a better understanding of how to respond to risks, which communities are at risk, which communities need appropriate construction to mitigate seismic risk, and where emergency capability and response is needed. He added, "Our commission put out a policy recommendation last year, during the buildup to the capital budget discussion, as going on the record to support the university in that funding, ... in their goal of adopting those USArray stations. It will help our state be in a better position." In further response to Representative Hopkins, he explained prior to data provided by USArray beginning in 2016, there was one seismic center in the Brooks Range and one in Prudhoe Bay, "and we had really a big blind spot to what seismic activity was going on up there." After USArray, there are two separate regions in the Brooks Range, one near Kobuk, and another near Atigun Pass, that have reported an earthquake cluster, which is a large number of small- to medium-size earthquakes, that would have remained undetected but are now being studied. Mr. Strait concluded USArray reveals where seismic risks are and thereby improves safety. 1:30:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked Mr. Strait to explain the difference between an earthquake swarm and an earthquake cluster. MR. STRAIT said both terms refer to a series of small- to medium-size earthquakes occurring in the same geographical area within a few square miles of one another, but not tied to a large event. CO-CHAIR TARR inquired as to whether the state estimates the monetary value of the contributions made by the extensive volunteer service that is provided to state boards and commissions. MS. CURTIS said the value referred to by Co-Chair Tarr is not included in the criteria listed in the sunset audit report [on pages 25 and 26]. Further, she cautioned about the amount of [staff] resources required to determine said value. CO-CHAIR TARR, speaking from her previous experience, stated nonprofits estimate the value of skilled labor and volunteer hours to determine the value of their contributions. She expressed her appreciation for volunteers. 1:33:34 PM CO-CHAIR TARR opened public testimony on HB 197. 1:34:00 PM MR. STRAIT said ASHSC is proud of its work and the results of the audit report; the audit recognized accomplishments made by ASHSC volunteers over the last few years. He said ASHSC seeks to continue serving for the next eight years to improve seismic safety in Alaska. 1:34:51 PM CO-CHAIR TARR, after ascertaining no one further wished to testify, closed public testimony. [HB 197 was held over.]