Opinion and Ideas – Terry McLaughlin: New Laws for California | community
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a series of new California laws that go into effect on January 1st and will affect all of our lives. While some of these calculations demonstrate common sense, others can be viewed as alarming. Here are just a few of them:
AB2956 officially made the Lunar New Year a national holiday. This year the Lunar New Year falls on January 22nd. Workers can use “eight hours of vacation, annual leave, or time off in lieu of eight hours of personal vacation credit” to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Genocide Memorial Day (April 24), Juneteenth (June 19), or Native American Day (June 22). September).
SB3 will raise the statewide minimum wage in California to $15.50 an hour for all sizes of employer.
AB2147, known as the Freedom to Walk Act, prohibits law enforcement from issuing a ticket to a person who crosses the road outside an intersection or crosswalk (jaywalking) unless a “reasonably cautious person would recognize that there is an imminent risk of collision”.
AB1909, dubbed the “OmniBike Bill,” makes changes to vehicle code and prevents cities and counties from enforcing bicycle license laws. It requires drivers to change lanes when passing a cyclist when possible, and allows bicycles to cross streets on pedestrian signals rather than just at a green light.
AB1946 requires the CHP to work with the CA Office of Traffic Safety and other organizations to develop statewide electric bicycle safety and training programs.
SB1087 and AB1740 were formed to combat catalytic converter theft. These laws increase the requirements for recyclers to keep specific and detailed records of catalysts received.
AB174 requires drivers aged 70 and over to renew their driving license in person at a DMV office.
AB2097 will prohibit cities in California from enacting minimum parking requirements for new developments within half a mile of public transit. The bill does not prevent property owners from including parking but would keep mandates to a minimum.
SB611 requires the DMV to send notices to Californians who have had permanent handicap parking signs for at least six years, asking them to confirm that they are still needed. The DMV will not renew posters for those who do not respond.
AB2949 exempts vehicles with special license plates belonging to a disabled veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, prisoner of war, or a veteran who has received an award such as the Purple Heart or the Congressional Medal of Honor from paying tolls on roads, bridges, interstates, Vehicle crossings or other toll facilities.
SB837 eliminates the $5 fee for obtaining a military “veteran” designation on a driver’s license or ID card.
AB2000 includes parking spaces in the list of places on public roads where street racing and shows are prohibited.
SB1472 expands the criteria for “gross negligence” in relation to manslaughter. Drivers involved in sideshows, speeding exhibits, or speeding in excess of 100 mph resulting in a fatality can be charged with manslaughter with gross negligence.
AB2223 enables nurses, midwives, and physician assistants to perform abortions without physician supervision. It also removes the previous requirement for coroners to examine stillbirths.
AB107 prevents other states from preventing or punishing minors who come to California, with or without parental consent, for transgender surgery or other gender-affirming care. The law will block subpoenas from out of state, prevent healthcare providers from sharing information with out-of-state facilities, and give California courts the power to make an initial determination of custody of the child if the child is in California, to get sex. Confirmation of treatments or surgeries.
SB960 repeals the requirement that a person must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States to become a law enforcement officer. The bill does not distinguish between legal and undocumented immigrants.
SB731 would permanently and electronically seal most felony convictions after a person has completed their sentence and probation and a specified number of subsequent years have elapsed without an arrest. Those whose records are sealed would be required to disclose their criminal records if asked when applying for a law enforcement or public office job. Registered sex offenders were exempt from this legislation.
SB1338 will allow family members, first responders and others to ask a judge to create a treatment plan for someone diagnosed with certain disorders, including schizophrenia. Those who refuse to accept the plan could be placed under guardianship and asked to comply. The law would allow a court to order a treatment plan that could include medication, housing and therapy for up to a year, with the option to extend it for a second year.
AB44, which bans the sale and manufacture of new fur products, was signed in 2019 but will come into effect this year. The ban does not apply to used products or those used for religious or tribal purposes, and it excludes the sale of leather, dog or cat fur, cowhide, deer, sheep and goat skin or other products that have been preserved by taxidermy .
AB1041 relaxes the definition of persons who an employee may take leave to care for by adding a “named person” to the category of existing eligible family members.
SB1228 prohibits the use of DNA collected from sexual assault victims during an investigation for any other purpose, including investigating other crimes.
AB178 imposes civil penalties on hotels when a supervisory worker knew of sex trafficking activity at the hotel or acted in reckless disregard for sex trafficking activity at the hotel and failed to notify law enforcement or an appropriate victim service organization.
AB2799 aims to limit the use of rap lyrics as evidence by prosecutors in criminal cases.
