Sec. 26.23.073. - Emergency planning districts and committees. - Alaska Statutes

(a) The commission shall set the boundaries of local emergency planning districts. The commission shall set the boundaries of a district so that they are coextensive with the boundaries of a single political subdivision except when it would be more appropriate, based on findings of the commission, for the district to include more than one political subdivision or some area that is not contained within a political subdivision. Before the commission sets the boundaries for a district under this subsection so that it includes more than one political subdivision or some area that is not within a political subdivision, the commission shall consult the emergency response organizations and the political subdivisions in the proposed district.

(b) If, after the commission sets boundaries for districts under (a) of this section, there remain areas of the state that are not included in any district, those areas constitute a local emergency planning district.

(c) If the commission sets boundaries for a district under this section that includes more than one political subdivision, the commission shall recommend to the governor the designation of an interjurisdictional disaster planning and service area under AS 26.23.070 whose boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of the local emergency planning district established under this section.

(d) The commission shall appoint the members of a local emergency planning committee for each emergency planning district established under (a) and (b) of this section. In making appointments for a district that contains only one political subdivision, the commission shall follow the recommendations of the political subdivision if those recommendations would constitute a committee that meets the requirements of this subsection. In making appointments for a district that contains more than one political subdivision, the commission shall consider the recommendations of each political subdivision and follow the recommendations to the extent that the political subdivisions are in agreement and their recommendations would constitute a committee that meets the requirements of this subsection. To the extent required under regulations that may be adopted by the commission, the political subdivisions in a district that includes more than one political subdivision shall follow a process under which they develop coordinated recommendations to submit to the commission under this subsection. In making appointments for a district that includes some area that is not contained within a political subdivision, the commission shall consider the recommendations of emergency response organizations in the district. In making appointments for the district formed under (b) of this section, the commission shall attempt to achieve equitable geographical representation on the committee. Except as provided in (e) of this section, each committee must include, at a minimum, representatives of each of the following seven categories:

(1) elected local officials;

(2) law enforcement, civil defense, fire fighting, first aid, health, local environmental, hospital, and transportation personnel;

(3) broadcast or print media;

(4) community groups;

(5) owners and operators of facilities subject to the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 11001 - 11005;

(6) representatives of a local or interjurisdictional disaster planning and service area if one has been established that includes part of the district; and

(7) members of the public that are not described in (1) - (6) of this subsection.

(e) If advertisement and the commission's own initiative do not result in the acceptance of appointment to a committee by at least one person from a category under (d)(1) - (7) of this section, the requirement of (d) of this section that there be representation of that category on that committee is suspended until sufficient willing appointees become available.

(f) A person may request the commission to change the membership of a local emergency planning committee.

(g) Each local emergency planning committee shall

(1) establish procedures for receiving and processing requests from the public for information under 42 U.S.C. 11044, including tier II information under 42 U.S.C. 11022;

(2) appoint a chair and establish rules by which the committee shall function, including provisions for public notification of committee activities, public advertising of positions available on the committee, public meetings to discuss the emergency plan, public comments, response to the comments by the committee, distribution of the emergency plan, and designation of an official to serve as coordinator for information;

(3) prepare and periodically review an emergency plan in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 11003(a) in a manner that includes coordination with the political subdivisions covered by the plan;

(4) evaluate the need for resources necessary to develop, implement, and exercise the emergency plan, and submit recommendations to the political subdivisions in the emergency planning district with respect to the resources that may be required and the means for providing the resources;

(5) to the extent consistent with the constitution and law of the state, perform all other functions prescribed for emergency planning committees in 42 U.S.C. 11001 - 11005;

(6) to the extent considered advisable by the committee, make recommendations to political subdivisions, representatives of interjurisdictional disaster planning and service areas, and state agencies about the preparation of local, state, and interjurisdictional plans; and

(7) serve as an advisory committee to the political subdivisions within the emergency planning district or the interjurisdictional planning and service area established under AS 26.23.070 with respect to emergency planning, training, and response.

(h) A state agency represented on the commission shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a local emergency planning committee in the performance of its duties under this section.