By Miriam Raftery
New laws address problems ranging from Facebook frauds to truant teens
January 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – As of January 1st, 725 new laws take effect in California. How many may affect you, your family, or your business?
Here are highlights of some new measures on the books.
• If you use a false identity on Facebook, other social networks, or via e-mails to intimidate, threaten, defraud or harm someone, you could go to jail. (SB 1411)
• Private employers must provide a paid leave of absence if you donate an organ or bone marrow (SB 1304).
• If you shop at a bakery, you will no longer have trans-fats in your baked goods, due to a 2008 bill authored by Tony Mendoza that takes effect Jan. 1, 2011.
• Your insurance company can’t discriminate by charging higher rates for women or men (AB 119).
• Whooping cough vaccine boosters are now mandatory for students in 7th-12th grade.
• You can use food stamps to pay for purchases at farmer’s markets (AB 537).
• Your landlord can’t evict you for being a victim or stalking or sexual abuse (SB 782).
• Chelsea’s law, which increases penalties and oversight of sex offenders, also adding a “one strike” provision for life without parole of violent sexual predators, takes effect. (AB 1844)
• You can lease out your car if you’re not using it and save money on insurance (AB 1871).
• If you’re caught possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, you’re no longer guilty of a misdemeanor—only an infraction, punishable by a $100 fine. (SB 1449)
• If your child is truant more than 10% of the school year without a valid excuse, and you’ve failed to provide reasonable supervision and encouragement to go to school, you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and jailed (SB 1317).
• New buildings in Califiornia must be energy efficient. (AB 715).
• Production home builders must offer homebuyers solar as an option (SB 1 – passed in 2005).
• Foster youths can now acquire state services until age 21 (AB 12).
• A caregiver who assaults a child under 8 and causes permanent paralysis or coma from brain injury can be sentenced to life in prison, though parole is possible (AB 1280).
• Doctorate degrees in physical therapy will now be offered through the California State University System. (AB 2382)
• Health insurers cannot refuse to cover children with pre-existing conditions (AB 2244)
• Health insurers can’t cancel your policy unless there was fraud or intentional misrepresentation (AB 2470).
• Feb. 6 has been designated “Ronald Reagan Day” and schools will be encouraged to honor Ronald Reagan (SB 944).
• A minor who reports an alcohol-related medical emergency will be immune from criminal liability for possessing or consuming alcohol (AB 1999)
• Carpet manufacturers can charge a nickel more per square yard to fund recycling (AB 2398).
• Pedicab drivers must be licensed (AB 2294).
• A “Blue Alert” system using Amber Alert equipment will notify the public when a law enforcement officer is killed and police seek a suspect who has fled (SB 839).
• Inmates who are permanently incapacitated, requiring 24-hour medical care, may be granted medical parole—but not those sentenced to death or life in prison without parole (SB 1399).
• Nonviolent, pregnant inmates and women who are primary caregivers to children may be sentenced to alternative custody arrangements, such as confinement in a transitional care facility or drug treatment program (SB 1266).
• Workers at businesses that provide child care while customers shop must conduct background checks on those workers (SB 702, passed in 2009).
• Drivers under age 21 must complete a motorcycle safety course before getting a permit to drive a motorcycle, and must hold the permit for six months before obtaining a class M motorcycle license (AB 1952).
• Nursing homes will have to start posting federal star ratings (AB 215).
LAWS PASSED WITH DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION
• If you drink and drive, you could lose your license for ten years upon a third conviction in a 10-year period; this law takes effect January 1, 2012 (AB 1601).
• You can bet on a horse to lose, starting in May 2012 (SB 1072).
• Kids can start kindergarten if they turn 5 years old by Sept. 1 (formerly Dec. 2), with gradual implementation until 2014-15 (SB 1381).
• Cadmium in children’s jewelry will be banned starting Jan. 1, 2012 (SB 929).
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