SENATE BILL NO. 137 "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission; and providing for an effective date." 10:29:41 AM BRITTANY HUTCHISON, STAFF, SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, explained SB 137. She stated that Alaska had more earthquakes than any other region in the U.S. and was one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Given the historical record and inevitable potential of future earthquake activity, Alaska needed the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission (ASHSC). The legislation would extend the ASHSC termination date from June 30 2014 to June 30, 2020. 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. Vice-Chair Fairclough asked to hear from the commission about the absenteeism of board members, and the efforts to replace members who were chronically absent from board meetings. 10:33:32 AM Ms. Curtis stated that LB&A conducted a sunset review of the commission dated September 2013. The previous sunset review was conducted in 2011, at which LB&A recommended a four-year extension. The legislature only approved a two- year extension, so they reviewed the commission again in 2013. She announced that LB&A concluded that the commission was operating in the public's interest, and requested extending the commission for six years. The audit had four recommendations, which were outlined in the audit (copy on file). FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The commission should improve prioritization and accountability within its strategic planning documents. 2. The commission should recommend replacing habitually absent members in a timely manner. 3. The Office of the Governor and the commission should work together to fill all commission vacancies in a timely manner. 4. The commission should ensure recommendations clearly identify the organization responsible for implementing an action and the action to be performed. 10:37:07 AM ROBERT SCHER, CHAIR, ALASKA SEISMIC HAZARD SAFETY COMMISSION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), explained that the commission was considered an advisory body that provided recommendations having to do with mitigating seismic hazards. He stated that the duties were not directly shared by any other state department or commission. The commission was comprised of several geologists; several civil and structural engineers; emergency response planners and managers; and a representative from the insurance industry. The commission covered a broad range of experiences and knowledge relative to the effects of how to manage mitigating seismic hazards. The commission believed that it functioned in the state and public's best interests. In response to a question from Vice-Chair Fairclough, Mr. Scher explained that there were two of the four recommendations from LB&A that were related to board meeting attendance. He stressed that meeting attendance did not necessarily correlated with commission activity. The commission met roughly seven times a year, mostly by teleconference. He stressed that the board meetings, at which business was conducted, always contained a quorum. He agreed that there were some times with habitually absent members. The commission had recently updated its rules of procedure for the commission, to be clearer to the members of their duties and responsibilities. 10:45:55 AM Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair Meyer looked at the fiscal note for $10,000 from DNR. Co-Chair Kelly MOVED to REPORT SB 137 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 137 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal note: FN:1 (DNR).