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HOUSE BILL NO. 233
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY REPRESENTATIVES NELSON, Kaufman, Carpenter, Rasmussen, Vance, Gillham
Introduced: 1/18/22
Referred: State Affairs, Judiciary
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
1 "An Act relating to religious services during disasters; and providing for an effective
2 date."
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
4 * Section 1. AS 26.23.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
5 (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the governor issues
6 an order, proclamation, or regulation under this chapter that designates any service or
7 activity as essential, the order, proclamation, or regulation must also designate
8 religious services as essential.
9 * Sec. 2. AS 26.23.040(a) is amended to read:
10 (a) The Alaska division of homeland security and emergency management
11 shall prepare and maintain a state emergency plan and keep the plan [IT] current. If
12 the plan designates any service or activity as essential, the plan must also
13 designate religious services as essential. The plan may include provisions for
14 (1) prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by
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1 disasters;
2 (2) prompt and effective response to disasters;
3 (3) emergency relief;
4 (4) identification of geographical areas, municipalities, cities, and
5 [OR] villages especially vulnerable to a disaster;
6 (5) recommendations for
7 (A) zoning, building, and other land use controls;
8 (B) safety measures for securing mobile homes or other
9 nonpermanent or semi-permanent structures; and
10 (C) other preventive and preparedness measures designed to
11 eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;
12 (6) assistance to local officials in designing local emergency action
13 plans;
14 (7) authorization and procedures for the construction of temporary
15 works designed to protect against or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from a disaster;
16 (8) organization of manpower and chains of command;
17 (9) coordination of federal, state, and local disaster activities;
18 (10) coordination of the state emergency plan with the disaster plans of
19 the federal government; and
20 (11) other matters necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
21 * Sec. 3. AS 26.23.060(e) is amended to read:
22 (e) Each political subdivision shall ensure that a written local or
23 interjurisdictional disaster emergency plan for its area is prepared, maintained, and
24 distributed to all appropriate officials. The disaster emergency plan must
25 (1) include a clear and complete statement of the emergency
26 responsibilities of all local agencies and officials;
27 (2) designate religious services as essential if the plan designates
28 any other service or activity as essential.
29 * Sec. 4. AS 26.23.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
30 (10) "religious services" means rituals, worship, counseling, or
31 ceremonies performed as part of religious observation or by a religious leader.
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1 * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).
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Statutes affected:
HB0233A, AM HB 233, introduced 01/07/2022: 26.23.020, 26.23.040, 26.23.060, 26.23.900