FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5106

C 388 L 19

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the creation of a work group to study and make recommendations on natural disaster mitigation and resiliency activities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Das, Mullet, Frockt, Keiser, Zeiger and Kuderer; by request of Insurance Commissioner).

Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade

House Committee on Housing, Community Development & Veterans

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Washington State is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and wildfires.

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) oversees Washington State's insurance industry and regulates insurance companies, agents, and brokers.

Resilient Washington Subcabinet. The Governor created the Resilient Washington Subcabinet (RWS), via directive, in 2016. This subcabinet, through the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division and in consultation with other state and local agencies, boards, commissions, and councils, has been involved with assessing Washington State's strategy on hazards posed by earthquakes and tsunamis to increase individual, family, and business preparedness. The Washington Military Department, under the direction of the adjutant general, administers the state's comprehensive program of emergency management.

Summary: A work group is created to study and make recommendations on natural disaster and resiliency activities. Specifically, the work group must:

• review activities by public and private entities, other states, and the federal government in regards to disaster mitigation and resiliency;

• review uptake in this state for disaster related insurance, such as flood and earthquake insurance;

• review how other states coordinate disaster mitigation, specifically the California Earthquake Authority;

• review how other states and the federal government fund disaster mitigation and resiliency activities and programs; and

• make recommendations to the Legislature and OIC.

The work group shall consist of at least 24 members, including the following:

• the insurance commissioner, or a designee, who shall serve as chair of the work group;

• one member from each of the two major caucuses of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

• one member from each of the two major caucuses of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

• a representative from the Governor's RWS;

• a representative from the Washington State Association of Counties;

• a representative from the Association of Washington Cities;

• a representative from the State Building Code Council;

• the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources or a designee;

• the director of the Washington State Military Department or a designee;

• the Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee;

• the secretary of the Department of Transportation or a designee;

• the director of the Department of Ecology or a designee;

• the director of the Department of Commerce or a designee;

• a representative from the Washington Association of Building Officials;

• two representatives from the property and casualty insurance industry, to be selected by the insurance commissioner or designee, through an application process;

• a representative of emergency and transitional housing providers, appointed by the OIC;

• a representative from public utility districts, to be selected by the State Association of Public Utility Districts;

• a representative of water and sewer districts, selected by an association of water and sewer districts;

• a representative selected by the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs, the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, and the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to represent the four commissions on the work group;

• a representative from the Washington State Department of Agriculture;

• a representative from the State Conservation Commission;

• two representatives from federally recognized tribes, one from the east and one from the west side of the Cascade Mountains; and

• other state agency representatives or stakeholder group representatives, at the discretion of the work group, to participate in specific topic discussions or subcommittees.

Work group recommendations must include particular information and proposals related to the functioning of the work group and to improving Washington State's natural disaster and resiliency activities.

A preliminary report of recommendations to the Legislature, OIC, the Governor, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources is due by November 1, 2019, with a final report due by December 1, 2020.

Votes on Final Passage: