Bid to Extend Quake Claim Deadline Fails

The state Assembly rejected a bill Thursday to allow earthquake victims to file insurance claims up to 10 years after a quake, despite appeals by supporters who said the bill would aid many suffering quake victims.

Meanwhile, the Assembly approved legislation to ensure that the San Fernando Valley gets a voice in governing the massive Los Angeles Community College District.

A bill that would have given quake victims up to 10 years to file insurance claims for quake damage failed by a vote of 34-36 despite a fervent appeal by its author, Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles).

He argued that a vote for his bill was a vote for victims of the quake. “Are you on the side of the insurance companies or do you side with the people?” he asked.

Most insurance firms currently impose a one-year deadline for quake damage claims. But Knox said many quake victims are still struggling to get their insurance carriers to pay for quake repairs because much damage was not apparent until after the one-year deadline had passed.

His bill would have extended the deadline to a year after damage is discovered, for a maximum of 10 years after a quake hits. Knox argued that his bill simply writes into the state statutes the results of a court ruling in an insurance dispute in San Diego.

But opponents argued that the bill would increase insurance costs for all policyholders--an argument made by several insurance companies.

“If you want to ensure that you will bankrupt our system, vote for this bill,” said Assemblyman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar). “This is a dangerous bill.”

In another debate late Wednesday night, the Assembly endorsed a bill by Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) to require the community college system to elect its board members by district, doing away with the current system under which all members are elected by voters throughout the district.

All of the current board members live within seven miles of one another near downtown Los Angeles. None live in the Valley, which is home to three of the nine community colleges in the system.

The bill applies only to the Los Angeles Community College District, which is the largest in the nation, serving 400,000 students on nine campuses.

Under the legislation, the community college system would divide its 882-square-mile area into nine districts, requiring that one board member be elected from each. The Valley would get three seats on the board.

Cardenas, a rookie legislator, was clearly worried about the bill when it appeared early on that it would fall a few votes short of getting a 41-member majority. But Cardenas worked late into the night, lobbying his colleagues--both Republicans and Democrats--until he was able to secure a 52-21 vote for the legislation.

“It was quite an exercise,” he said.

But opponents--including a powerful teachers union and a majority of the community college board of trustees--said district elections will make college trustees more parochial, encouraging them to focus more on one single district than on the welfare of the entire system.

“It’s important that the community college trustee members feel that they have the interest of the entire district in mind,” said Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), who opposed the bill.

Because of such opposition, Cardenas said he expects the bill will also be a tough sell in the state Senate.