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Chapter 12.3. Center For Earthquake Engineering Research of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 2. >> Chapter 12.3.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
(a) This state is located along a major tectonic plate boundary that is part of the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, and it is inevitable that earthquakes will continue to occur along the state's numerous faults causing extensive damage to property and potentially extensive loss of life and injury. In the last decade, this state and its residents have endured a number of moderate earthquakes resulting in injuries, loss of life, and in excess of thirty billion dollars ($30,000,000,000) in property damage. Projected losses in future earthquakes could exceed one hundred fifty billion dollars ($150,000,000,000) as was the case for the recent Kobe earthquake in Japan.
(b) Moderate, potentially damaging earthquakes occur on the average of every couple of years somewhere in this state, and another great earthquake in southern California can be expected within the next 20 to 30 years. However, recent increased seismic activity in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles Basin, coupled with new estimates of long-term seismic patterns, suggest that the seismicity in this state has been anomalously low in the recent past, and we may be returning to a normal period of more frequent large earthquakes. Also, a damaging earthquake near San Diego cannot be ruled out.
(c) Continued advances in the knowledge and practice of science, engineering, and other earthquake-related disciplines are critical to the development of state and local earthquake risk reduction programs and practices that lead to improvements in existing and new buildings, dams and utility systems, transportation facilities, communications systems, fire and toxic materials safety, and disaster preparedness.
(d) It is important to all California residents that new and improved cost-effective earthquake risk reduction measures be developed that will appreciably lower the potential for death, injury, damage to property and disruption of lives and businesses in this state.
(e) It is the consensus of the California engineering and scientific communities that while damaging earthquakes are inevitable in this state, significant levels of earthquake risk reduction will be achievable if steps are taken to provide the needed focus and coordination of earthquake risk reduction efforts.
(f) In 1986, the Governor signed Senate Bill 1667, which formalized this state's commitment to the establishment of a center for earthquake engineering research within the state, but this center has yet to be established.
(g) The National Science Foundation has indicated that it may fund such a center on a competitive basis at a level of two million dollars ($2,000,000) per year for five years beginning in 1996, if the center matches the foundation contribution on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis from nonfederal funds.
(h) A center for earthquake engineering research will provide a much needed multidisciplinary, integrated research program to develop new and improved cost-effective earthquake risk reduction measures.
(i) A center for earthquake engineering research will enhance California's worldwide competitiveness in the fields of earthquake design and construction and may serve as a catalyst for developing new products and services that have global implications.
(j) Therefore, it is in the interest of the safety of all California residents and visitors that a center for earthquake engineering research be created to develop, through research and application, new and improved, cost-effective risk reduction measures that will reduce the potential for death and injury and damage to property.
(a) This state is located along a major tectonic plate boundary that is part of the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, and it is inevitable that earthquakes will continue to occur along the state's numerous faults causing extensive damage to property and potentially extensive loss of life and injury. In the last decade, this state and its residents have endured a number of moderate earthquakes resulting in injuries, loss of life, and in excess of thirty billion dollars ($30,000,000,000) in property damage. Projected losses in future earthquakes could exceed one hundred fifty billion dollars ($150,000,000,000) as was the case for the recent Kobe earthquake in Japan.
(b) Moderate, potentially damaging earthquakes occur on the average of every couple of years somewhere in this state, and another great earthquake in southern California can be expected within the next 20 to 30 years. However, recent increased seismic activity in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles Basin, coupled with new estimates of long-term seismic patterns, suggest that the seismicity in this state has been anomalously low in the recent past, and we may be returning to a normal period of more frequent large earthquakes. Also, a damaging earthquake near San Diego cannot be ruled out.
(c) Continued advances in the knowledge and practice of science, engineering, and other earthquake-related disciplines are critical to the development of state and local earthquake risk reduction programs and practices that lead to improvements in existing and new buildings, dams and utility systems, transportation facilities, communications systems, fire and toxic materials safety, and disaster preparedness.
(d) It is important to all California residents that new and improved cost-effective earthquake risk reduction measures be developed that will appreciably lower the potential for death, injury, damage to property and disruption of lives and businesses in this state.
(e) It is the consensus of the California engineering and scientific communities that while damaging earthquakes are inevitable in this state, significant levels of earthquake risk reduction will be achievable if steps are taken to provide the needed focus and coordination of earthquake risk reduction efforts.
(f) In 1986, the Governor signed Senate Bill 1667, which formalized this state's commitment to the establishment of a center for earthquake engineering research within the state, but this center has yet to be established.
(g) The National Science Foundation has indicated that it may fund such a center on a competitive basis at a level of two million dollars ($2,000,000) per year for five years beginning in 1996, if the center matches the foundation contribution on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis from nonfederal funds.
(h) A center for earthquake engineering research will provide a much needed multidisciplinary, integrated research program to develop new and improved cost-effective earthquake risk reduction measures.
(i) A center for earthquake engineering research will enhance California's worldwide competitiveness in the fields of earthquake design and construction and may serve as a catalyst for developing new products and services that have global implications.
(j) Therefore, it is in the interest of the safety of all California residents and visitors that a center for earthquake engineering research be created to develop, through research and application, new and improved, cost-effective risk reduction measures that will reduce the potential for death and injury and damage to property.
The Legislature hereby requests that on or after July 1,
1996, the University of California establish the California Center
for Earthquake Engineering Research in this state. The center shall
involve all the university members of the California Universities for
Research in Earthquake Engineering. The center shall be the first
step to realizing the goals and objectives contained in the Seismic
Safety Commission's research and implementation plan for earthquake
risk reduction drafted pursuant to Section 8899.15.
(a) The objective of the center shall be to reduce casualties, property losses, and economic or other disruptive consequences of earthquakes in areas of high seismicity through the advancement of knowledge and technology in the earthquake engineering field. The center shall develop methods for identifying and quantifying the risks of great urban earthquakes and shall develop cost-effective strategies for reducing those risks to reasonable levels.
(b) The center shall operate a comprehensive, multiple college and university research program designed to meet the requirements of National Science Foundation funding, taking full advantage of the capabilities of leading colleges and universities in the state. The center shall carry out an integrated plan for a coordinated research program and shall actively manage all of the activities funded by it. Colleges, universities, organizations, agencies, and researchers with special expertise in the earthquake engineering field shall be encouraged to submit proposals to the center and to cooperate in obtaining additional funding from private or public research sponsors for collaborative research involving the center.
(c) The center shall conduct research on topics relevant to regions of high seismicity such as the following:
(1) Performance-based design at the scale of individual buildings, utility or transportation components, and other structures as complemented by performance-based design at the urban scale of large numbers of these facilities.
(2) Identification of key sources of future earthquake losses, quantification of these sources of risk, and development of strategies for reliably controlling losses.
(3) Development of cost-effective techniques for the analysis and design of retrofit measures for existing construction.
(4) Improved structural design and analysis methods for new construction.
(5) Development of techniques for determining the suitability of sites and for understanding critical design relationships among soil conditions, foundations, and structures and for predicting response to earthquake ground motions and earthquake-caused ground failures.
(6) Experimentation to verify the seismic behavior of bridges, dams, ports, critical communications facilities, utility and transportation system elements, and nonstructural and structural components of buildings.
(7) Development of a research infrastructure, including upgrading experimental facilities to more accurately simulate earthquakes.
(8) Expansion of the data base of performance from actual earthquakes to ensure that the unfortunate occurrence of earthquakes also serves the positive societal and scientific purpose of systematically advancing knowledge.
(9) Encouragement and development of emerging technologies, design strategies, and analytical capabilities that offer the potential for breakthroughs in earthquake risk reduction.
(a) The objective of the center shall be to reduce casualties, property losses, and economic or other disruptive consequences of earthquakes in areas of high seismicity through the advancement of knowledge and technology in the earthquake engineering field. The center shall develop methods for identifying and quantifying the risks of great urban earthquakes and shall develop cost-effective strategies for reducing those risks to reasonable levels.
(b) The center shall operate a comprehensive, multiple college and university research program designed to meet the requirements of National Science Foundation funding, taking full advantage of the capabilities of leading colleges and universities in the state. The center shall carry out an integrated plan for a coordinated research program and shall actively manage all of the activities funded by it. Colleges, universities, organizations, agencies, and researchers with special expertise in the earthquake engineering field shall be encouraged to submit proposals to the center and to cooperate in obtaining additional funding from private or public research sponsors for collaborative research involving the center.
(c) The center shall conduct research on topics relevant to regions of high seismicity such as the following:
(1) Performance-based design at the scale of individual buildings, utility or transportation components, and other structures as complemented by performance-based design at the urban scale of large numbers of these facilities.
(2) Identification of key sources of future earthquake losses, quantification of these sources of risk, and development of strategies for reliably controlling losses.
(3) Development of cost-effective techniques for the analysis and design of retrofit measures for existing construction.
(4) Improved structural design and analysis methods for new construction.
(5) Development of techniques for determining the suitability of sites and for understanding critical design relationships among soil conditions, foundations, and structures and for predicting response to earthquake ground motions and earthquake-caused ground failures.
(6) Experimentation to verify the seismic behavior of bridges, dams, ports, critical communications facilities, utility and transportation system elements, and nonstructural and structural components of buildings.
(7) Development of a research infrastructure, including upgrading experimental facilities to more accurately simulate earthquakes.
(8) Expansion of the data base of performance from actual earthquakes to ensure that the unfortunate occurrence of earthquakes also serves the positive societal and scientific purpose of systematically advancing knowledge.
(9) Encouragement and development of emerging technologies, design strategies, and analytical capabilities that offer the potential for breakthroughs in earthquake risk reduction.
The center shall disseminate its findings among the
academic community, design professionals, government officials,
building regulatory personnel, and the public. In carrying out this
objective, the center shall devise an effective dissemination program
that includes actions such as the following:
(a) Publication of the results of research in appropriate print, electronic, or audio-visual formats to reach technical audiences and, where appropriate, nontechnical users.
(b) Encouragement of interdisciplinary communication among civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers, earth scientists, planners, and architects during all phases of the research projects.
(c) Training of practitioners, educators, and researchers to inform them of the latest developments in the earthquake engineering field.
(d) Facilitation of the educational development of faculty and students at all grade levels.
(e) Sponsorship of seminars, briefings, courses, and other means of widening the circle of knowledge among design practitioners, university faculty and students, construction industry technicians and representatives, building department personnel, and other potential audiences.
(a) Publication of the results of research in appropriate print, electronic, or audio-visual formats to reach technical audiences and, where appropriate, nontechnical users.
(b) Encouragement of interdisciplinary communication among civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers, earth scientists, planners, and architects during all phases of the research projects.
(c) Training of practitioners, educators, and researchers to inform them of the latest developments in the earthquake engineering field.
(d) Facilitation of the educational development of faculty and students at all grade levels.
(e) Sponsorship of seminars, briefings, courses, and other means of widening the circle of knowledge among design practitioners, university faculty and students, construction industry technicians and representatives, building department personnel, and other potential audiences.
The center shall cooperate and coordinate with other
leading organizations in the earthquake engineering field to achieve
the following collaborative objectives:
(a) Timely communication to potential users of center research project results to facilitate the implementation of research into practice and application.
(b) Enhancement of the focus and value of center research projects through better understanding by researchers of the needs of earthquake engineering practitioners and other users of earthquake research.
(a) Timely communication to potential users of center research project results to facilitate the implementation of research into practice and application.
(b) Enhancement of the focus and value of center research projects through better understanding by researchers of the needs of earthquake engineering practitioners and other users of earthquake research.
(a) The Legislature finds that the National Science
Foundation will require the center to provide an annual report of its
activities. The center shall make a copy of that report available to
the Governor, the Legislature, and the Seismic Safety Commission.
(b) The Legislature further finds that the National Science Foundation will require the center to have an external oversight committee consisting of representatives from industry, government, and academia to provide advice on the center's goals, planning, research thrusts, and accomplishments regarding earthquake hazard mitigation needs in the nation. The Seismic Safety Commission shall appoint a member of the commission or staff to serve on the oversight committee.
(b) The Legislature further finds that the National Science Foundation will require the center to have an external oversight committee consisting of representatives from industry, government, and academia to provide advice on the center's goals, planning, research thrusts, and accomplishments regarding earthquake hazard mitigation needs in the nation. The Seismic Safety Commission shall appoint a member of the commission or staff to serve on the oversight committee.
The governance, administration, and operation of the center
shall be established by agreement between the University of
California and the National Science Foundation.
In carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter,
the Seismic Safety Commission, in close consultation with the
Transportation Agency, the Office of Emergency Services, and the
Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, may do the following:
(a) Monitor the work of the center on behalf of the state.
(b) Produce and deliver for each year that the center is in operation, an independent evaluation of the work conducted at the center as it pertains to the objectives of the center and reducing earthquake losses and earthquake risk in the state recognizing that as a national center it will undertake basic research of national and international consequence as well. The report shall include the following tasks:
(1) Interpret the results of research to indicate how the research may affect state law and policy.
(2) Recommend ways to promote the application of research.
(3) Recommend priorities that would contribute to achieving the center's objectives, provide direct benefits to California residents and businesses, and lead to the completion of specific recommendations in the state's earthquake risk reduction program.
(a) Monitor the work of the center on behalf of the state.
(b) Produce and deliver for each year that the center is in operation, an independent evaluation of the work conducted at the center as it pertains to the objectives of the center and reducing earthquake losses and earthquake risk in the state recognizing that as a national center it will undertake basic research of national and international consequence as well. The report shall include the following tasks:
(1) Interpret the results of research to indicate how the research may affect state law and policy.
(2) Recommend ways to promote the application of research.
(3) Recommend priorities that would contribute to achieving the center's objectives, provide direct benefits to California residents and businesses, and lead to the completion of specific recommendations in the state's earthquake risk reduction program.
Funding for the Seismic Safety Commission under this
chapter shall be made available by interagency agreement with the
University of California the first year that the center is in
operation and the commission shall seek a budget augmentation in all
subsequent years that the center is in operation in order to produce
and deliver an independent evaluation, monitor the work of the
center, and provide a forum at which the information may be
disseminated to those interested, as prescribed in Section 8876.7.
(a) The Earthquake Risk Reduction Fund of 1996 is hereby
created in the State Treasury for support of the center. All moneys
for support of the center shall be deposited into the fund and are
available to the Regents of the University of California if the
Director of Finance determines that matching federal funds have been
approved and are available for support of the center.
(b) The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), only to be used for activities related to transportation infrastructure, is hereby transferred from the State Highway Account to the Earthquake Risk Reduction Fund of 1996 and the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is hereby transferred from the General Fund to the Earthquake Risk Reduction Fund of 1996, and, if the Director of Finance determines that matching federal funds have been approved and are available, is hereby appropriated from that fund to the Regents of the University of California for expenditure during the 1996-97 fiscal year for support of the center.
(b) The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), only to be used for activities related to transportation infrastructure, is hereby transferred from the State Highway Account to the Earthquake Risk Reduction Fund of 1996 and the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is hereby transferred from the General Fund to the Earthquake Risk Reduction Fund of 1996, and, if the Director of Finance determines that matching federal funds have been approved and are available, is hereby appropriated from that fund to the Regents of the University of California for expenditure during the 1996-97 fiscal year for support of the center.
No provision of this chapter shall apply to the Regents of
the University of California, unless the regents adopt a resolution
making that provision applicable.
