Senator Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Make
Motion Picture and Television Hospital Eligible
for Disaster Assistance Funding

April 4, 2003

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) last night introduced legislation to allow private, non-profit hospitals which serve an industry-specific patient population to be eligible for federal disaster preparedness and response funding.

Under current law, institutions such as these are only eligible to receive disaster relief in limited circumstances. Under this legislation, facilities such as the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in the San Fernando Valley would be eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance under the Stafford Act - just as other private, nonprofit institutions can.

"In the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the Motion Picture and Television Hospital did not qualify for federal disaster assistance," Senator Feinstein said. "However, I believe that because this non-profit hospital has a policy of opening its doors to the general public in times of emergency, it should be allowed to apply for federal funding as well. This bill simply puts the Motion Picture Hospital, and other facilities like it, on equal footing with other critical care facilities when applying for federal disaster assistance."

The Motion Picture and Television Hospital was established more than 80 years ago to provide members of the entertainment industry with vital medical care and social services. With an acute care hospital, six outpatient facilities staffed with primary care physicians, a children's center, retirement facilities, and programs for the elderly, this hospital provides comprehensive care for a significant sector of the population of the greater Los Angeles community.

Under California law, all hospitals must complete seismic retrofitting by 2010.

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