The mission of the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission is to improve the well-being of the people of California through cost-effective measures that lower earthquake risk to life and property. To accomplish this, the Commission works with federal, state, and local agencies as well as the private sector on a variety of activities that guide and stimulate earthquake risk reduction and management. The 20 appointed Commissioners provide state government with policy guidance, topical expertise, and perspectives from the private sector, academia, and local government. The Commission is responsible for: (1) advising the Governor, Legislature and the citizens of California on seismic safety policies and issues, (2) maintaining and encouraging the implementation of the state's five-year Earthquake Loss Reduction Plan, (3) reviewing the adequacy of earthquake safety policies and programs carried out by state and local agencies and providing recommendations for improvement, (4) using existing knowledge and conducting studies where necessary to develop and publish information to improve the performance of structures in California, (5) preparing and disseminating guides to the public identifying earthquake weaknesses and other issues related to residential and commercial buildings, (6) advising the Governor, Legislature, school districts, and the public on seismic safety issues affecting school facilities, (7) awarding and managing grants under its Earthquake Grant Research Program, relevant to priorities identified within its Earthquake Research Plan and/or the California Earthquake Loss Reduction Plan, (8) fostering the development and use of new and emerging technologies, and (9) seeking new information and insights from the scientific and engineering communities and from studies of damaging earthquakes and applying this information to reduce California's earthquake risk.

Chapter 532, Statutes of 2006 (SB 1278) places the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission under the purview of the State and Consumer Services Agency, effective January 1, 2007.