38.52.040 - Emergency management council -- Members -- Ad hoc committees -- Function as state emergency response commission -- Rules review.

Emergency management council — Members — Ad hoc committees — Function as state emergency response commission — Rules review.

(1) There is hereby created the emergency management council (hereinafter called the council), to consist of not more than seventeen members who shall be appointed by the governor. The membership of the council shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of city and county governments, sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington state patrol, the military department, the department of ecology, state and local fire chiefs, seismic safety experts, state and local emergency management directors, search and rescue volunteers, medical professions who have expertise in emergency medical care, building officials, and private industry. The representatives of private industry shall include persons knowledgeable in emergency and hazardous materials management. The council members shall elect a chairman from within the council membership. The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended.

     (2) The emergency management council shall advise the governor and the director on all matters pertaining to state and local emergency management. The council may appoint such ad hoc committees, subcommittees, and working groups as are required to develop specific recommendations for the improvement of emergency management practices, standards, policies, or procedures. The council shall ensure that the governor receives an annual assessment of statewide emergency preparedness including, but not limited to, specific progress on hazard mitigation and reduction efforts, implementation of seismic safety improvements, reduction of flood hazards, and coordination of hazardous materials planning and response activities. The council or a subcommittee thereof shall periodically convene in special session and serve during those sessions as the state emergency response commission required by P.L. 99-499, the emergency planning and community right-to-know act. When sitting in session as the state emergency response commission, the council shall confine its deliberations to those items specified in federal statutes and state administrative rules governing the coordination of hazardous materials policy. The council shall review administrative rules governing state and local emergency management practices and recommend necessary revisions to the director.

[1995 c 269 § 1202; 1988 c 81 § 18; 1984 c 38 § 5; 1979 ex.s. c 57 § 8; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 82; 1974 ex.s. c 171 § 6; 1951 c 178 § 5.]

Notes: Effective date -- 1995 c 269: See note following RCW 9.94A.850.

Part headings not law -- Severability -- 1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 13.40.005.

Effective date -- Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34: See notes following RCW 2.08.115.