oakhurstleaf
Jan 02, 2006, 11:26 AM
Any objections?
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State laws ring in 2006
From phishing to hunting, new legislation is in effect.
By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger / Bee Capitol Bureau
(Updated Sunday, January 1, 2006, 6:05 AM)
SACRAMENTO — Happy new-law day.
Gov. Schwarzenegger signed 729 bills into law last year, and many of them take effect today.
The laws touch many parts of life, including making it illegal to hunt via the Internet, drive miniature motorcycles on roadways and sell violent video games to minors.
Here are some of new laws:
Driving
If you're a teenager with a provisional drivers license, it's now against the law for you to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during your first year behind the wheel. Nor are you allowed to transport passengers younger than 20 unless you're with a licensed driver at least 25 years old.
No one can drive miniature motorcycles, known as "pocket bikes," on highways, sidewalks or any other part of a road or trail. Manufacturers now have to affix stickers to pocket bikes, alerting consumers to the new rules.
Beginning in July, car dealers must offer a two-day cancellation option for people who buy used cars for less than $40,000. During that time, the buyer may return the car without cause if certain criteria are met.
Illegal street racers should beware. If caught and convicted, they will face higher penalties, including a fine and up to six months in jail.
Drivers who speed away from the police also will face stiffer sentences of up to one year in jail. If the pursuit results in a crash and someone is killed, the driver can receive up to 10 years in prison. Previously, the sentence topped out at five years in prison.
Courts
If you're going to court or entering a city, county or state building, think twice before trying to bypass security. Doing so can now get you up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
During a court hearing, children ages 13 and younger can now testify by closed-circuit television in child-abuse cases. The method also is allowed for child victims of sex crimes and violent felonies.
Health
If you perform nose, tongue and eyebrow piercings, you should check the age of your clients. Piercers can now face a fine of up to $250 for piercing any body part other than the ear of a child younger than 18 if a parent is not present.
The state no longer will pay for erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra under Medi-Cal for registered sex offenders. Medi-Cal is the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.
Health plans and insurance companies no longer can deny coverage for organ and tissue transplants on the basis that the policyholder is infected with HIV.
A law that allows mothers to turn over babies younger than 72 hours to a county-designated safe surrender site without prosecution for child abandonment will continue indefinitely. The rule was set to expire today.
Technology
Computer enthusiasts no longer can hunt online. Shooting or killing any bird or mammal with a weapon via the Internet is now prohibited, and it's against the law to host hunting locations or maintain Web sites to support the practice.
A new anti-phishing law prohibits anyone, through the Internet or other electronic means, to solicit identifying information from another person by saying he or she represents a business without that business' permission.
If you sell, rent or make violent video games, you have several new rules to follow. Violent video games no longer may be sold to minors. Each game distributed in California must be labeled with a solid white "18" outlined in black. A game is violent if the player is able to kill, dismember or sexually assault the image of a human being.
Education
A new law requires California State University and community college governing boards and asks the University of California to provide students with information about how to prevent sexual violence.
Low-income community college students no longer will be exempt from paying health care service fees. Campuses are now permitted to recoup some costs of offering health services to offset funding shortfalls.
The CSU system is now allowed to award education doctorate degrees to prepare students for positions at K-12 and community college levels. Previously, the UC system had the sole authority to offer doctorates.
CSU students — including those who attend Fresno State — will have Nov. 11 off this year for Veterans Day. Previously, some CSU campuses stayed open on the holiday and instead took the day during winter break.
A new law creates a program that could offer bachelor's degrees on certain community college campuses. If funded by the state, students could earn four-year degrees on up to two campuses statewide.
Community college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina might not have to pay out-of-state tuition. A new law allows college districts to exempt those students from paying nonresident tuition for the 2005-06 academic year.
If you're wondering about rules regarding equal treatment in school sports, check out the state Department of Education Web site beginning in July. It will be required to post the "Athletes' Bill of Rights" in English and Spanish.
Beginning in July, students won't be able to participate in high school sports unless they sign a pledge not to take anabolic steroids or banned dietary supplements.
Students in grades K-12 will be offered more fruits and vegetables at school under a new state program the state is required to develop.
In July 2007, rules begin that will limit the amount of fat, sugar and calories in food sold at K-12 schools. Also beginning that year, schools will have to phase in a rule that bans soda sales at school during certain times of the day.
The reporter can be reached at jfitzenberger@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541.
-----------------------
State laws ring in 2006
From phishing to hunting, new legislation is in effect.
By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger / Bee Capitol Bureau
(Updated Sunday, January 1, 2006, 6:05 AM)
SACRAMENTO — Happy new-law day.
Gov. Schwarzenegger signed 729 bills into law last year, and many of them take effect today.
The laws touch many parts of life, including making it illegal to hunt via the Internet, drive miniature motorcycles on roadways and sell violent video games to minors.
Here are some of new laws:
Driving
If you're a teenager with a provisional drivers license, it's now against the law for you to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during your first year behind the wheel. Nor are you allowed to transport passengers younger than 20 unless you're with a licensed driver at least 25 years old.
No one can drive miniature motorcycles, known as "pocket bikes," on highways, sidewalks or any other part of a road or trail. Manufacturers now have to affix stickers to pocket bikes, alerting consumers to the new rules.
Beginning in July, car dealers must offer a two-day cancellation option for people who buy used cars for less than $40,000. During that time, the buyer may return the car without cause if certain criteria are met.
Illegal street racers should beware. If caught and convicted, they will face higher penalties, including a fine and up to six months in jail.
Drivers who speed away from the police also will face stiffer sentences of up to one year in jail. If the pursuit results in a crash and someone is killed, the driver can receive up to 10 years in prison. Previously, the sentence topped out at five years in prison.
Courts
If you're going to court or entering a city, county or state building, think twice before trying to bypass security. Doing so can now get you up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
During a court hearing, children ages 13 and younger can now testify by closed-circuit television in child-abuse cases. The method also is allowed for child victims of sex crimes and violent felonies.
Health
If you perform nose, tongue and eyebrow piercings, you should check the age of your clients. Piercers can now face a fine of up to $250 for piercing any body part other than the ear of a child younger than 18 if a parent is not present.
The state no longer will pay for erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra under Medi-Cal for registered sex offenders. Medi-Cal is the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.
Health plans and insurance companies no longer can deny coverage for organ and tissue transplants on the basis that the policyholder is infected with HIV.
A law that allows mothers to turn over babies younger than 72 hours to a county-designated safe surrender site without prosecution for child abandonment will continue indefinitely. The rule was set to expire today.
Technology
Computer enthusiasts no longer can hunt online. Shooting or killing any bird or mammal with a weapon via the Internet is now prohibited, and it's against the law to host hunting locations or maintain Web sites to support the practice.
A new anti-phishing law prohibits anyone, through the Internet or other electronic means, to solicit identifying information from another person by saying he or she represents a business without that business' permission.
If you sell, rent or make violent video games, you have several new rules to follow. Violent video games no longer may be sold to minors. Each game distributed in California must be labeled with a solid white "18" outlined in black. A game is violent if the player is able to kill, dismember or sexually assault the image of a human being.
Education
A new law requires California State University and community college governing boards and asks the University of California to provide students with information about how to prevent sexual violence.
Low-income community college students no longer will be exempt from paying health care service fees. Campuses are now permitted to recoup some costs of offering health services to offset funding shortfalls.
The CSU system is now allowed to award education doctorate degrees to prepare students for positions at K-12 and community college levels. Previously, the UC system had the sole authority to offer doctorates.
CSU students — including those who attend Fresno State — will have Nov. 11 off this year for Veterans Day. Previously, some CSU campuses stayed open on the holiday and instead took the day during winter break.
A new law creates a program that could offer bachelor's degrees on certain community college campuses. If funded by the state, students could earn four-year degrees on up to two campuses statewide.
Community college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina might not have to pay out-of-state tuition. A new law allows college districts to exempt those students from paying nonresident tuition for the 2005-06 academic year.
If you're wondering about rules regarding equal treatment in school sports, check out the state Department of Education Web site beginning in July. It will be required to post the "Athletes' Bill of Rights" in English and Spanish.
Beginning in July, students won't be able to participate in high school sports unless they sign a pledge not to take anabolic steroids or banned dietary supplements.
Students in grades K-12 will be offered more fruits and vegetables at school under a new state program the state is required to develop.
In July 2007, rules begin that will limit the amount of fat, sugar and calories in food sold at K-12 schools. Also beginning that year, schools will have to phase in a rule that bans soda sales at school during certain times of the day.
The reporter can be reached at jfitzenberger@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541.