HOUSE BILL NO. 197                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety                                                                        
     Commission; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:45:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CHRIS   TUCK,  SPONSOR,  said   that  Alaska                                                                    
experienced  numerous  earthquakes   each  year,  which  put                                                                    
people  and infrastructure  at risk.  The bill  would extend                                                                    
the Alaska  Seismic Hazards Safety Commission,  which brings                                                                    
together key  governments official and volunteer  experts to                                                                    
provide  recommendations   on  how  to   improve  earthquake                                                                    
response and mitigation.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:48:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,   LEGISLATIVE  AUDITOR,  ALASKA   DIVISION  OF                                                                    
LEGISLATIVE  AUDIT,  reviewed  the audit  report  "A  Sunset                                                                    
Review  of  the  Department  of  Natural  Resources,  Alaska                                                                    
Seismic  Hazards Safety  Commission  (commission)" (copy  on                                                                    
file). She stated that the  audit found that there continued                                                                    
to be a  public policy need for  the commissions  existence.                                                                    
She referenced Page  9 of the report, which  showed that the                                                                    
annual expenditures  were relatively  low for  the expertise                                                                    
leveraged by  the commission. She  spoke to  the recommended                                                                    
administrative improvements on Pages 16 and 17:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     • The commission's chair should ensure procedures are                                                                      
        implemented to publish meeting notices timely and                                                                       
        accurately.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     • The commission's chair should ensure the strategic                                                                       
        plan is updated to reflect current goals and                                                                            
        priorities based on experience.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Curtis  furthered that the  department had  responded to                                                                    
the  audit (Page  29) by  agreeing that  the commission  was                                                                    
necessary and that  the administrative recommendations would                                                                    
be addressed.  She added  that the  chair of  the commission                                                                    
agreed to  the recommendations and said  that meetings would                                                                    
be  noticed  and  that  the  administrative  plan  had  been                                                                    
updated.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:49:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof  thought the bill was  simple. She listed                                                                    
the people available for expert testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:50:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:50:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof set the bill aside.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 197(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                       
consideration.