California Seismic Safety Commission
Governor Schwarzenegger Secretary Rosario Marin Director of California Seismic Safety Commission, Richard McCarthy

Public Interest

Be Prepared


Amber Alert

Right Column

About the Commission

The Commission investigates earthquakes, researches earthquake-related issues and reports, and recommends to the Governor and Legislature policies and programs needed to reduce earthquake risk.  Among the duties of the Commission are:

Managing California's Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Reviewing seismic activities funded by the State
Providing a consistent policy direction for earthquake-related programs for agencies at all government levels
Proposing and reviewing earthquake-related legislation
Conducting public hearings on seismic safety issues
Recommending earthquake safety programs to governmental agencies and the private sector
Investigating and evaluating earthquake damage and reconstruction efforts following damaging earthquakes
 

History and responsibilities

With passage of the Seismic Safety Act  in 1975 the Seismic Safety Commission was established to advise the Governor, Legislature, and state and local governments on ways to reduce earthquake risk.  Our name was revised in 2006 by Senate Bill 1278 which changed the name to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission.  Senate Bill 1278 (Alquist, 2006) made changes to the Seismic Safety Act that included moving the Commission under the California State and Consumer Services Agency and adding three more members to the Commission.  The Commission is composed of 20 commissioners chosen for their expertise and experience. Fifteen of the commissioners are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. One commissioner represents the State Senate, and one represents the State Assembly. View a timeline of selected seismic legislation: 100 Years of Seismic Safety [pdf]
 

Special Committees

1. Much of the Commission's work is carried out by special committees. These committees investigate specific issues thoroughly and recommend policies and legislation to the full Commission. Currently, our committees are:

2. Emergency Planning and Response and Recovery. The committee reviews the capability of the public and private sectors to respond to and recover from a major earthquake; investigates emergency response following a major earthquake and monitors recovery efforts; makes recommendations to the Seismic Safety Commission; and may issue reports based on findings.

3. Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory o the Seismic Safety Commission; and may issue reports based on findings.

Committee.The Strong Motion Instrumentation Advisory Committee (SMIAC) is an advisory committee to the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program(CSMIP) which is administered by the Division of Mines and Geology in the California Department of Conservation. SMIAC is made up of experts from universities and industry, with specialists in structural and geotechnical engineering and in seismology. CSMIP is instrumenting structures and ground sites throughout California to record the strong shaking that occurs during earthquakes. The recorded data are analyzed with the goal of improving building codes to reduce the impact of future earthquakes in California. SMIAC dates to the establishment of CSMIP by legislation after the damaging San Fernando earthquake of 1971. The efforts of SMIAC contributed in a key way to the effectiveness of CSMIP during the 1994 Northridge earthquake and other recent events. The SMIAC sub-committees are:

  • Executive
  • Buildings
  • Data Interpretation
  • Ground Response
  • Lifelines

4. Legislative Advisory. This committee develops and proposes legislative initiatives that carry out the Commission's recommendations on seismic safety. In addition, this committee is charged with reviewing all seismic-related bills pending before the Legislature and recommending official positions on these bills.

5. California Earthquake Loss Reduction Plan Implementation. Using the lessons learned from the past earthquakes the committee reviews and updates the Loss Reduction Plan, which is the state's earthquake hazard mitigation plan.

6. Planning and Budget. The committee provides guidance to the executive director relating to planning, administrative policy and fiscal issues and makes recommendations to the full commission.

7. Public Information and Education. The committee examines the need for and nature of public outreach information and recommends and monitors the implementation of an appropriate program to the Commission.

8. Earthquake Research. The committee is implementing the recommendations set forth in the Commission's Research and Implementation Plan for earthquake risk reduction in California.

9. Tsunami Safety Committee. The committee is to examine tsunami hazards and risk potential in California. It is also to identify mitigation and education activities and identify tsunami hazard assessment and mitigation and preparedness activities that need improvement. The committee is to prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for transmittal to the Governor and the Legislature.