By Anissa Rivera, PASADENA STAR NEWS
Eaton fire survivors can delve into two new bills with state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez designed to fix the transparency and enforcement failures advocates said are stalling recovery.
All are welcome to a virtual town hall from 7 to 8 p.m. today on Zoom.
Attendees will hear from Pérez, ask questions and “together, we’ll talk honestly about what it will actually take for survivors and allies to get these bills across the finish line,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, which is co-sponsoring the legislation with Consumer Watchdog.
“Recovery accelerates when the money shows up. When it doesn’t, families are pushed out,” Chen said.
The survivors’ group collected nearly 500 firsthand accounts of insurer misconduct to document what they
said are illegal delays and denials by insurers.
Pérez didn’t just listen to survivors, Chen said: “She took what she heard and turned it into action.”
Pérez will walk attendees through the new bills, starting with SB 877, the Fair Claims Practices and Transparency Act, which would require insurers to fully disclose all loss estimate documents and revisions to policyholders, provide clear written explanations of any changes that reduce the estimated loss and identify who made those changes.
SB 878, the Insurance Payment Accountability Act, would penalize unjustified payment delays with interest, require timely identification and explanation of disputed items, mandate payment of all undisputed claim amounts and strengthen accountability to prevent prolonged and unresolved insurance claims.
“Every Eaton fire survivor deserves to be made whole and must not face burdensome delays and unjust treatment. This community is not asking for a handout, but only for what they are entitled to receive for the harms they have experienced.
“Whether from an insurance company or a utility, justice must be delivered. Too many Eaton fire survivors have had their recoveries needlessly blocked by insurance companies’ long delays and questionable actions,” Pérez said.
The Zoom event can hold 1,000 attendees. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uQB093w8QY6rrfSY6QdZIg