H-2297              _______________________________________________

                                           SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 493

                        _______________________________________________

                                                   Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg. - Governor Vetoed

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Valle, Todd, Jacobsen, Leonard, Barnes, Ebersole, Cole, Rust, Crane, Appelwick, Braddock, D. Nelson and Miller)

Read first time 3/8/85 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to seismic safety; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) The legislature finds and declares that there is a pressing need to strengthen earthquake safety in Washington by improving public policy, especially that related to reducing hazards and mitigating the effects of potentially damaging earthquakes.  This need is not being addressed by any existing state government organization.

          (2) It is not the purpose of this act to transfer any authorities and responsibilities now vested by law in state and local agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     There is created a seismic safety commission, which shall report annually to the governor, the legislature, and the department of emergency management on its findings, progress, and recommendations relating to earthquake hazard reduction.  The commission shall submit its final report to the legislature by June 30, 1987.

          (1) The commission shall consist of nine members as follows:

          (a) The supervisor of the department of natural resources or the supervisor's designee, the director of the department of emergency management or the director's designee, and the director of the department of community development or the director's designee;

          (b) One seismologist and one engineer appointed by the governor; and

          (c) Four members of the legislature, including two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate.  The two members appointed from each house shall be representative of the two major political parties.

          (2) The term of office for each member of the seismic safety commission shall be two years.  The commission may elect its own chair, vice-chair, and other officers.  All business shall be conducted by majority vote and a majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

          (3) The members of the seismic safety commission shall serve without compensation, except:

          (a) Legislative members shall be reimbursed under RCW 44.04.120; and

          (b) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  The expenses for state officials and employees shall be paid by their respective departments.  Travel expenses for members who are not state officials or state employees shall be paid by the department of emergency management.

          (4) The commission shall be housed in the department of emergency management.

          (5) "Commission," as used in this act, means the seismic safety commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The commission is responsible for the following in connection with earthquake hazard reduction:

          (1) Review and recommend methods, practices, and procedures to educate the public, including public officials, about the nature and consequences of earthquakes, about procedures for identifying those locations and structures especially susceptible to earthquake damage, and about methods to reduce and mitigate the adverse effects of an earthquake;

          (2) Recommend goals and priorities to the state; and

          (3) Gather, analyze, and disseminate information.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The commission, in the discharge of its responsibilities, may:

          (1) Accept grants, contributions, and appropriations from public agencies, private foundations, or individuals; and

          (2) Seek advice from interested public and professional groups, and appoint nonvoting members to advise the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This act may be known and cited as the seismic safety commission act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act shall expire June 30, 1987.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

                                                                                                                          Passed the House March 21, 1985.

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.

                                                                                                                           Passed the Senate April 17, 1985.

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.