Section 13801 Of Chapter 4. Holocaust Era Insurance Registry From California Insurance Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 4.
13801
. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) During World War II, untold millions of lives and property
were destroyed.
(b) In addition to the many atrocities that befell the victims of
the Nazi regime, insurance claims that rightfully should have been
paid out to the victims and their families, in many cases, were not.
(c) In many instances, insurance company records are the only
proof of insurance policies held. In some cases, recollection of
those policies' very existence may have perished along with the
Holocaust victims.
(d) At least 5,600 documented Holocaust survivors are living in
California today. Many of these survivors and their descendents have
been fighting for over 50 years to persuade insurance companies to
settle unpaid or wrongfully paid claims. Survivors are asking that
insurance companies come forth with any information they possess that
could show proof of insurance policies held by Holocaust victims and
survivors, in order to ensure that closure on this issue is swiftly
brought to pass.
(e) Insurance companies doing business in the State of California
have a responsibility to ensure that any involvement they or their
related companies may have had with insurance policies of Holocaust
victims are disclosed to the state and to ensure the rapid resolution
of these questions, eliminating the further victimization of these
policyholders and their families.
(f) The international Jewish community is in active negotiations
with responsible insurance companies through the International
Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims to resolve all
outstanding insurance claims issues. This chapter is necessary to
protect the claims and interests of California residents, as well as
to encourage the development of a resolution to these issues through
the international process or through direct action by the State of
California, as necessary.