QUAKE RELIEF BILLS

Here’s a brief summary of the major earthquake relief bills passed on Saturday by the Legislature and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian for his signature: Increases the state sales tax by one-quarter of a cent for 13 months, beginning Dec. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 1990, to raise an estimated $800 million to help pay for earthquake repairs and aid to disaster victims. Creates a damage compensation fund for victims, or their families, who were killed or injured in the collapses of the Nimitz Freeway or a portion of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Authorizes the governor to provide supplemental grants of up to $10,000 to those disaster victims with the greatest need, on top of $10,000 federal grants. Allows businesses and individuals to carry forward property and casualty losses on their state corporation and income taxes for five years. Permits the use of state funds for housing needs in earthquake-damaged regions, including low-interest loans for homeowners. Puts needed repair work for damaged highways and bridges on a so-called fast track by exempting contractors from various permit requirements. Establishes a special program to assess and accelerate the retrofitting of both state and local bridges. Waives the required one-week wait before a person residing in a major disaster area is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Authorizes the governor to make emergency funds available for the repair of private, non-profit organizational facilities, including universities. Permits state parks bond money to be used to rehabilitate damaged recreational facilities. Replenishes the state’s $20-million disaster response fund, which was nearly depleted by immediate earthquake assistance payments. Provides funding to counties hit hard by the earthquake to cover revenue losses caused by reduced collection of property taxes.