July 1 brings new, sometimes quirky laws

[pickel]

July 1 brings new, sometimes quirky laws - CNN.com


1. Illinois: Taxi drivers can charge passengers a $50 cleanup fee for vomiting in cabs.
2. Kentucky: A law prohibits people from releasing feral hogs into the wild.

3. New Mexico: Grocery stores, restaurants and other vendors are prohibited from claiming that their fresh chili peppers are New Mexico chilies unless they were grown in the state.

4. Pennsylvania: Punxsutawney school guidelines increase from ½ cup to ¾ cup the minimum serving of vegetables for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
5. Florida: A law forbids the shackling of women incarcerated during a pregnancy and immediately after giving birth.
6. Virginia: A law allows a brewery licensee to sell at retail the brands of beer that the brewery owns at premises.
7. Virginia: A local ordinance requires electronic messages on outdoor advertising to remain in place for at least eight seconds to avoid driver distractions.


8. Kentucky: Prisoner of War and Missing in Action flags purchased or displayed by public institutions must be made in the United States.


9. Minnesota: A law increases penalties for transporting certain aquatic invasive plants and animals.
10. Florida: A law prohibits people from videotaping a person without his or her knowledge in a residential dwelling.
11. Indiana: A nepotism law prohibits local government workers from hiring or promoting family members in their direct line of supervision.
12. Virginia: A law requires a person convicted of DUI to have an ignition interlock device in their car, operable by blowing into a breathalyzer.
13. Wisconsin: A law calls for mandatory license plates for all ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) operating in public areas.
14. Massachusetts: A law bans the disposal of medical sharps (needles, syringes and lancets) in household trash.
15. Virginia: A law allows a concealed handgun permit as a valid form of identification when voting.
16. Georgia: A law gives drivers the option of affixing a decal with the slogan "In God We Trust" on license plates in place of the county where they live.
17. Nevada: Unclaimed casino earnings will be split between the state (75%) and the casino (25%). Previously, the casino got all the money.
18. Idaho: Law enforcement can issue arrest warrants by fax.


19. Vermont: Minors (under 18) will be prohibited from using tanning beds.


20. Kentucky: (Effective July 12) A law makes it more difficult for thieves to sell stolen copper for immediate cash at recycling centers by delaying payments.

[Chuckiechan]

California Gay Bullying Law (Seth's Law)

Combats bullying of gay and lesbian students in public schools by requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints. Mandates that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying. Law effective July 1, 2012.

Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law

The new California Commercial Recycling Law requires businesses statewide to recycle their waste.

AB 341 requires that businesses statewide arrange for recycling services in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste from landfills to recycling.

Mandatory commercial recycling aims to help create green jobs by expanding recycling to all multi-family dwellings and commercial businesses statewide. Law effective July 1, 2012.

National Database Check for Vehicle Sales Law

AB 1215 requires all vehicles for sale in California to be checked against the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System database to reveal past vehicle damage, like flooding or severe collisions. Dealers must mark vehicles with bright red warning stickers if they are listed as junk, salvaged or flooded.

New vehicle dealers statewide will also transmit information electronically to the DMV for faster delivery of vehicle registration papers and license plates to consumers. Dealers also raise the fee they can charge for titles and registrations from $55 to $80. New law effective July 1, 2012.

Other New Laws Effective July 2012

Schools must update their anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and programs to include sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, disability and religion.
School employees will get training in the prevention of bullying, while victims get priority for transfers to a different school district. The definition of bullying is expanded to include posting material on an online social media website.
Tattoo artists, piercing artists and permanent cosmetics artists must register every year with a local government and must now meet minimum statewide standards.
California health care insurers must provide coverage for behavioral treatment of autism for children and young adults.
Individual and group health insurance providers in California must cover maternity services.
California counties can use the Social Security Administration benefits database to find low income individuals over age 60 who may be eligible to participate in the CalFresh food stamps nutrition program.
It is now illegal in California to produce or sell foie gras (fatty liver) which is made by force-feeding ducks or geese.

Internet Sales Tax Law ("Amazon Tax Law")

Governor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state. Law effective September 1, 2012.

Laws Effective January 2012

Child Booster Seat Law

The new California Booster Seat Law outlaws parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The new California law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 4'9" inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat. Law effective January 1, 2012.

Genetic Discrimination Law

Protects citizens of California by prohibiting discrimination based on genetic information. The California Genetic Discrimination Law outlaws DNA discrimination in the areas of housing, employment, education, public accommodations, health insurance coverage, life insurance coverage, mortgage lending and elections. Law effective January 1, 2012.

Employment Credit Check Law

Employers can no longer request credit reports for Californians unless they are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department.

The law also exempts anyone who:

(1) has access to people's bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth,
(2) has access to an employer's proprietary information or trade secrets, (3) signs a check, credit card, financial contract, or transfers money for an employer,
(4) has access to more than $10,000 cash, or (5) is a manager in 'certain industries'.

Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Handgun Open Carry Law

Open-carry citizen handgun ban. Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not. Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Gun rights advocates vow to carry rifles and shotguns instead. Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons, though it is increasingly difficult. Law effective January 1, 2012.

For more new laws regarding firearms, read "New California Gun Laws."

California Human Trafficking Law

Enforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains. Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations. Law effective January 1, 2012.

LGBT Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education Law

State universities and colleges must create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and appoint employee contact persons to address on-campus LGBT matters. The law includes community colleges statewide. Law effective 2012.

Domestic Partnership Equality Law

Corrects inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing. Law effective 2012.

Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Law

Allows courts to consider the relationship between a child and a non-biological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents, and gay or lesbian guardians. Law effective 2012.

Transgender Non-Discrimination Law

Provides public accommodation and protection in education, housing and employment for gender identity and expression. Law effective 2012.

Transgender Vital Statistics Law

Makes it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents. Law effective 2012.

LGBT Equal Benefits Law

Requires an employer with a state contract worth more than $100,000 to have non-discrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners. Law effective 2012.

Judicial Applicant and Appointment Demographics Inclusion Law

Includes gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state's Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse. Law effective 2012.

Gay Divorce Law

Provides that if a gay couple got married in California but lives in a state that won't grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce. The case will be filed in the county where the gay couple got married. Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Gay History Law

Governor Jerry Brown signed the Gay History Law, which mandates that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments. Law effective January 1, 2012.

California Renters Right to Recycling Law

Apartment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants. Law effective January 1, 2012. Read "California Renters Recycling Law".

California Data Breach Notification Law

When consumer data has been breached, the holder of the data must notify the affected consumers of the occurrence in order to halt identity theft. Law effective January 1, 2012. Read "California Data Breach Notification Law".

California Reader Privacy Law

Government and third-party snoops can no longer gather information on Internet users' reading, book shopping or ebook using habits without a legal court order. Law effective 2012. Read "California Reader Privacy Law".

New DUI Law

Section 23579 has been added to the California Vehicle Code, which authorizes courts to revoke a driver's license for 10 years if a person is convicted of three or more DUIs. Motorists may apply for reinstatement of their license with the DMV after five years, if the driver installs an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in their vehicle.

New Double White Line Law

AB 1105 prohibits vehicles from crossing double parallel solid white lines in California, except where expressly permitted.

New Reckless Driving Restricted License Law

AB 520 allows California drivers convicted of reckless driving under Section 23103.5 of the Vehicle Code to apply for a restricted driver's license prior to the completion of their one-year suspension if they meet specific conditions, such as the installation of Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicle.

New DUI Checkpoint Vehicle Impound Law

AB 353 prohibits law enforcement officers from impounding a vehicle for 30 days at a DUI checkpoint if the only offense is failing to hold a valid driver license.

New Laws Already Enforced (2011)

California Male Circumcision Law

Local governments, such as cities and counties, can no longer ban infant male circumcision. Law effective immediately. Read "California Circumcision Law."

California Presidential Primary Law


The presidential primary has been moved from February back to June.


California National Popular Vote Law


All of California's 55 electoral votes will ultimately go to the winner of the popular vote in U.S. presidential elections. Read "California National Popular Vote Law".

Mandatory DMV Organ Donation Answer

The State of California now requires all driver's license and ID applicants to answer YES or NO to whether they want their organs donated. Read "CA Law Forces DMV Organ Donation Answer".

New California Gun Laws (Attached Below)

Senate Bill 610 - Concealed Handgun Permit Application

SB 610 standardizes the application process for a concealed handgun permit and removes the mandate that a CCW applicant purchase liability insurance before getting the permit.

The loudest criticism remains that the concealed handgun permit is still too difficult to obtain --- and perhaps too "political" in the process. Law in effect since January 2012.

Senate Bill 819 - Transfer of Background Check Fees

SB 819 lets the Department of Justice utilize the Dealer Record of Sales (DROS) funds to pay for enforcement of California firearm possession laws in the Armed & Prohibited Persons Systems program.

DROS funds were originally collected from firearm purchasers to pay for the administrative process for background checks. SB 819 amends Section 28225 of the Penal Code.

Critics of this new gun law say that, by diverting DROS background check fees toward gun possession law enforcement, the DROS fund will be depleted of money and necessitate another increase in California fees for background checks in the state. Law in effect since January 2012.

Assembly Bill 144 - Unloaded Handgun Open Carry Ban

AB 144 makes the open carrying of an unloaded handgun illegal in California.

Critics of this new gun law say the open carrying of firearms by law-abiding Californians results from arbitrary concealed carry laws, which let gun owners from one county get a permit while gun owners in the next county are denied the right. Law in effect since January 2012.

*Newly-proposed open carry legislation includes Assembly Bill 1527, which would expand on the unloaded handgun open carry ban to also include unloaded rifles and shotguns. Exempted would be long guns carried in public by hunters, military participants in parades and law enforcement officials.

This pending legislation is currently being opposed by gun owners, gun rights advocates and 2A supporters statewide.

Assembly Bill 809 - Long Gun Registration Law (not yet in effect)

AB 809 will require the registration of any newly purchased long guns, beginning in 2014.

Critics of this new gun law say it violates Second Amendment rights by forcing state registration of rifles and shotguns, and that the only value of long gun registration is in assisting governments to locate and confiscate firearms in the future. Law effective January 2014.

Senate Bill 427 - VETOED

SB 427 was vetoed by the governor because of a pending lawsuit on its predecessor, AB 962.

The vetoed bill would have allowed police to collect sales records from ammunition retailers and would have required ammunition vendors to notify police of their intention to sell ammunition. It also included a list of calibers that must be registered to purchasers at the point-of-sale to be inspected by the Department of Justice at will.

Opposition by gun owners to the legislation was fierce. Though it was vetoed, many wonder if, or when, it will attempt a comeback.

The new California gun laws have caused mixed emotions across state, but the biggest backlash seems to be regarding the current unloaded handgun open carry ban, along with the proposed long gun open carry ban, passed by the Assembly in May 2012 and headed to the Senate.

*************************

And that is just this year... No wonder everyone ignores the laws in California!

[tony_j15]

Pickel, I don't find find these laws quirky at all. Do you?

[pickel]

Pickel, I don't find find these laws quirky at all. Do you?

Need to check with Jim Barnett, CNN on that one......

Follow the blue link....

[tony_j15]

Well, we know Jim is paid to say what he does. Personally, I don't find anything to be "quirky" about prohibiting feral hogs from being released (a hog can have 35 piglets a year) or keeping incarcerated women from being shackled during/after birth. Sounds more like well thought, good rules to me.