AK SB216

Establishes the Alaska Climate Change Emergency Response Commission in the Office of the Governor, composed of 15 members including 6 state commissioners and 9 mayors or municipal council members from nine geographic regions of Alaska.

Commission members serve staggered three-year terms at the governor's pleasure, with two co-chairs elected by majority vote—one from appointed municipal officials and one from state commissioners.

Commission may accept grants and contracts, consult with climate scientists and stakeholders, employ an executive director, and assess sliding-scale fees for grant writing assistance (exempt for governmental and tribal entities).

Commission duties include preparing a strategic climate response plan identifying vulnerable areas and sectors, providing grant writing assistance to rural governments and nonprofits, developing a fund distribution program for local climate response, and submitting annual reports to the governor and legislature by February 1.

Governor must transfer all written reports, recommendations, and research from the existing Climate Change Sub-Cabinet to the new Commission within 30 days of the act's effective date.