New California Laws

List of New California Laws July 2012

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. 

And be aware ....


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.


Source: www.californiality.com