A law requiring hospitals to either close or comply with strict seismic standards by 2008 and even more stringent regulations by 2030 was passed in 1994 after the Northridge quake and the 1971 Sylmar earthquake.
Lawmakers say they support safer hospitals.
But the law leaves hospitals with an order to spend millions and no help to do it, said Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Santa Ana. Dunn introduced one of the four bills, AB928, which would provide bond money to hospitals to pick up one-third of the cost of retrofitting. According to a recent state report, most of Orange County's largest hospitals are in danger of crumbling in a major earthquake. Dunn's bill is expected to be heard today in the Senate health committee along with a bill by Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco, that would extend the deadline for hospitals to comply with seismic standards. Two Assembly bills also propose bonds to help hospitals pay for the retrofitting work and amendments to the existing law.