Holocaust reparations bill sails through Assembly

Chan, who has many Jewish constituents, said she wanted to do something positive in light of the tension in the Middle East.

Based on similar legislation introduced a few years ago, Assembly Bill 989 goes further in that the exemption extends not only to Holocaust survivors but their heirs. Reparations include payments for humanitarian assistance and for forced or slave laborers. The measure is similar to legislation passed to help Japanese-Americans.

"The Japanese-American community won reparations in the early- to mid-'80s and I was very involved in that movement," said Chan, a Democrat. "So we took a look at what we had done there and applied it to the Jewish community."

Furthermore, the restitution will not count towards determining eligibility for state programs including education grants, disability benefits, Medi-Cal health insurance benefits or public assistance.

"This population is elderly, and many of them are applying for Medicare," said Chan. "It would be terrible if these payments put them over the top and they would be disqualified."

The governor now has 30 days to sign the bill. "I don't see any reason why he wouldn't" sign it, said Chan. "I'm very hopeful he'll put this into law."