MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Dozens of survivors of the Minneapolis freeway bridge collapse are calling on the state to create a compensation fund to help them.

Several spoke at a news conference at the Red Cross in Minneapolis, where a legislative committee will discuss a bill to compensate survivors and their families.

The August first collapse of the I-35W bridge killed 13 people and injured about 100 more. The victims want help for medical bills, economic losses and pain and suffering.

Lindsay Petterson says her hometown of Lake Lillian near Willmar raised $10,000 to help her after she broke her back in the disaster, but others weren't so lucky.

State Representatives Ryan Winkler and Phyllis Kahn are modeling their legislation on the fund approved by Congress after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

They say the total cost would be a small percentage of the estimated bridge recovery and reconstruction costs, which are close to $400 million.