AN ACT Relating to seismic safety; amending RCW 70.86.030; adding new sections to chapter 70.86 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; 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 the earthquake resistance of public and private facilities, post-quake recovery preparedness, and public earthquake awareness and knowledge. This need is currently being only partially addressed by existing state government organizations.

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

Sec. 2. Section 3, chapter 278, Laws of 1955 and RCW 70.86.030 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~Structural frames, exterior walls, and all appendages of the~~)) Buildings ((~~described~~)) specified in RCW 70.86.020((~~, whose collapse will endanger life and property~~)) shall be designed and constructed to ((~~withstand horizontal forces from any direction of not less than the following fractions of the weight of the structure and its parts acting at the centers of gravity:~~

~~Western Washington 0.05~~)) earthquake resistance standards specified in the uniform building code adopted in chapter 19.27 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. There is created a seismic safety commission, which shall report annually to the governor and the legislature on its findings, progress, and recommendations relating to earthquake hazard reduction. The commission shall submit its final report by June 30, 1997.

(1) The commission shall consist of twenty-one members as follows:

(a) A chair appointed by the governor;

(b) The superintendent of public instruction, the chair, utilities and transportation commission, the secretary of the department of transportation, the chair, state building code council, the state geologist, and the director of the division of emergency management of the department of community development;

(d) A representative from each of electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications utilities appointed by the governor;

(e) Four private citizens of relevant backgrounds appointed by the governor; and

(f) 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) 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. 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 community development.

(4) The commission shall be supported by the department of community development.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) In furthering the state's earthquake readiness, the commission shall:

(a) Evaluate the earthquake resistance of buildings specified in RCW 70.86.030 and utilities and transportation systems in the state;

(b) Recommend building or construction codes or code improvement where needed;

(d) Evaluate and recommend the need for, if any, of earthquake resistance inspections of new and retrofitted buildings;

(e) Recommend improvements in post-quake recovery planning;

(f) Recommend improvements in public education programs, especially in schools;

(g) Prioritize needed actions when funds for all are not available; and

(h) Carry out other activities as determined by the commission.

(2) State and local government agencies and public service companies shall assist the commission in carrying out the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The commission, in the discharge of its responsibilities, may:

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

(2) Seek advice from interested public and professional groups;

(3) Appoint an executive secretary and up to two additional staff; and

(4) Appoint nonvoting members to advise the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The legislature shall review the activities of and future need for the commission by December 1, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 and 3 through 6 of this act shall expire June 30, 1997.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. There is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to the department of community development from the general fund two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the purposes of this act. Grants, contributions, and appropriations from other entities shall be used in lieu of general fund moneys where possible.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 3 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 70.86 RCW.