New try for bill to keep fire insurance

SACRAMENTO, June 24 (UPI) -- California officials said Thursday they will reintroduce legislation to stop insurers from dropping customers whose homes are damaged by wildfire.

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said the bill was needed because scores of fire victims who suffered losses in last fall's Southern California fires were finding they were being denied coverage if they filed a claim for their losses.

State Sen. Martha Escutia's bill failed in the Assembly Insurance Committee on Wednesday. Opponents of the measure said they feared it would lead to a big jump in prices for all homeowners' insurance in the state.