A number of hospitals in California have formed a coalition aimed at lobbying lawmakers to delay a deadline to make their facilities earthquake proof. San Diego's Scripps Health is among those asking the state for more time.
It all started with the 1994 Northridge earthquake. That event prompted lawmakers to pass a bill requiring hospitals to meet more rigorous seismic standards. The deadline was set for 2008.
That was later changed to 2013, and extended to 2015 for some hospitals. The new coalition wants the state to push back the deadline to 2030.
Coalition members say the tight credit market makes it tough for hospitals to raise enough cash to retrofit.
But some San Diego hospitals have already met or will soon meet the stricter earthquake standards.
These include Sharp Metropolitan, Grossmont, and the soon-to-be-completed Palomar Hospital.
