Page 11 - Sonoma County Gazette Janaury 2019

NEW California State Laws for 2019
As part of my annual New Year tradition, I am highlighting some of the new California state laws (most of which are in effect as of January 1, 2019 unless expressed otherwise in the law). Keep in mind that during the 2018 Legislative Session, over one thousand Assembly Bills (AB) and Senate Bills (SB) collectively passed. Governor Jerry Brown signed 1,016 of the 1,217 that landed on his desk (he vetoed the rest).
Below is only the tip of the iceberg. I have referenced the bill number. If you want to read the full text of the new law, go to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov , click on “Bill Information” and then enter the bill number.
Mother Earth: California is the first state in the nation to limit plastic straws in restaurants (you must ask for one). The new law exempts fast food, delis and cafes, but from my observation, these establishments are voluntarily following suit by switching to paper straws. (AB 1884).
Also, we took an impressive stance against greenhouse gases (SB 100) by requiring California to get 60% of our electricity from renewable sources (like solar and wind) by 2030, and 100% from climate friendly sources by 2045. Thinking of building a new home? Starting in 2020, new homes must have solar panels (exemptions for shady areas of the state). California is really taking the lead nationwide on protecting and embracing Gaia.
Don’t Doubt Your Guts
Pet-Friendly Parks: AB 1762 requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to update its website and list in “real-time” pet-friendly state parks by July 1, 2020.
DMV: Two new laws chosen: 1) Applicants for a drivers’ license or identity card can now select “female”, “male” or “non-binary” (displayed as “X” gender (SB 179); and 2) “Life in the Fast Lane”—new sticker program created for low emission vehicles to travel in HOV lane regardless of number of passengers for a period of four years (AB 544).
Gloria Steinem Revisited: Women’s voices are getting stronger. SB 826 requires that publically held corporations whose executive offices are located in California must have at least one female director on its Board of Directors. Then, no later than December 31, 2021, corporations must have a minimum of two female directors if the corporation has five directors or three female directors if the corporation has six of more directors.
Employment Issues: Three new laws chosen: 1) Before an employee had the right to “inspect and copy” his or her employment records. Now, an employee has the right to “receive a copy” of those employment records (SB 1252); 2) Employers are required to provide a lactation room or location (other than a toilet stall) for nursing mothers. Employers must also provide a “reasonable” amount of break time for lactation (AB 1976); and 3) Before only management/supervisors at large companies had to undergo sexual harassment training. Now, all workers at any business with at least five employees must undergo sexual harassment training.
Gun Control: Applicants for a concealed-carry-license must undergo
a minimum of eight hours or training (AB 2103). SB 1346 bans the manufacturing and sale of bump stocks and burst trigger devices (like the ones used in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting—a nightmarish 10 minutes that involved over 1,100 rounds being fired. 58 individuals killed; 851 injured). AB 3129 provides that anyone convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense after January 1, 2019 cannot possess a firearm for the rest of their life. Finally, AB 1968, effective January 1, 2020, provides that anyone who has been hospitalized more than once in a year for a mental health diagnosis is prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of their life.
Net Neutrality: SB 822 prevents large providers, like AT&T and Comcast from blocking, slowing down, or increasing fees for websites that require higher bandwidth, like video streams. This issue must involve millions and millions of dollars, based on the fierce opposition by the service providers nationwide.
In closing, my heartfelt gratitude to my loyal readers, my Editor, Vesta Copestakes, and this forum which offers an opportunity to enlighten and hopefully inspire our community on legal issues. I look forward to 2019 and future legal columns.
May we enter the New Year with a sense of creating Joy and Peace.
I was driving down the US 101 north’s sluggish traffic between College and Steele Lane when I noticed an old heavy duty 4x4 truck was driving down the shoulder with a blown up front tire. The metal rim was leaving visible marks on the road. The driver seemed to be adamant to drive his truck on this long stretch. To me, the biggest concern was any sparks catching on the dry area, a possible repetition of Redding’s fire that took so many lives.
I made an immediate decision and pulled my car off the road and blocked that moving truck. I got out of my car and signaled the driver and the passenger to stop. He did stop with some serious concern in his eyes.
I went to the passenger side window and expressed my concern that this dragging on the metal rim of the front tire is leaving marks on a public
road and it is also a fire hazard. I told them that I would call my insurance company and have the truck towed at no cost to them. They were concerned but agreed. I was not giving them a choice...I was blocking their way.
I was able to call a local tow company, Richard’s Tow (thanks Siri). I told them the situation and the tow truck company representative took understood the exceptional circumstance.
While I was waiting, CHP patrol showed up. I was able to quickly tell my story and gently mentioned that I really want this truck to be off the road as a concerned citizen and nothing else.
Richard’s Tow Truck showed up in minutes and hauled the truck away safely to nearby America’s Tire Shop on Cleveland Road. I want to point it out that it doesn’t take that much to do something so simple to avoid tragedies. ~ Mazher Mir
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