"An Act relating to the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission; and providing for an effective date. "

The Senate CS for CS for HB 83 extends the termination date for the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission until June 30, 2012.

The bill increases the number of commission members from nine members to eleven members. Three members of this commission shall be representatives of local government in a separate seismically active region.

The bill also allows the commission terms to be staggered.

With more than 33,000 miles of shoreline, Alaska has been and can be devastated by earthquakes and tsunamis. Since about 1900, Alaska has had 80 magnitude 7 or larger earthquakes. This includes the second- and third- largest earthquakes worldwide, which were larger than the recent earthquake in Indonesia.

Alaska accounts for more than half of all the earthquakes that occur in the U.S. and about ten percent of all earthquakes worldwide. One of the roles of a Seismic Hazards Safety Commission would be to provide a proactive resource for state and local government officials and Alaskan communities that want assistance in acquiring information and guidance necessary to help mitigate earthquake hazards.

Alaska's population is growing and the state's infrastructure is developing. The Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission can play a vital role in reducing earthquake related losses. The Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission is an invaluable asset in promoting the earthquake preparation essential to reducing our earthquake threat and future losses to the state that, without effective mitigation measures, are inevitable.

24-LS0372\C

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