New California Laws of 2011 a.k.a. S%& You Should Know

While everyone sipped their champagne on New Years Eve and kissed at the stroke of midnight, the politicians in Sacramento were busy passing 747 new laws. As mommies, daddies, sisters, brothers, grandchildren, aunts and uncles it would be advantageous for us all to be aware of the new laws passed in our beloved state. I also know that no one has the time or energy to read through them all. That is what I'm here for. I have summarized some of the more commonly approached laws that have passed below.

Let's start with the herbal news: Marijuana possession not exceed 28.5 grams is now an infraction (no worse than a speeding ticket) not a misdemeanor. Medical marijuana dispensaries must be located at least 600 feet away from any K-12 school.

If you catch a grand theft charge, the amount you can steal has risen to $950, up from $400.

Feb. 6 of every year is now officially Ronald Reagan Day in California. (Right in the middle of Black History Month? Ok, Mr. Schwarzenegger.)

It is illegal to sell electronic cigarettes to minors. (So, no pretending to be Allison Dubois from the Housewives of Beverly Hills.) - Cut to video of dinner scene. 

PARENTS! parents who fail to reasonably assess and correct their chronically truant child’s school attendance can now be charged with a misdemeanor and face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Landlords cannot evict tenants who are victims of domestic or sexual abuse or stalking
Food stamps an acceptable form of payment at farmers markets through an EBT process.

Child Abuse. Life without the possibility of parole, for abuse by a parent or other caregiver that causes a child under 8 to go into a coma or become permanently paralyzed.

Sex offenders who prey on children and an additional fine of up to $100,000 if a commercial sex act and human trafficking are involved.

Young people to remain on their parents’ plan until age 26, (damn, missed it by 2 years!) prohibit insurers from denying coverage to children based on a pre-existing condition, require health plans to cover preventive services (such as mammograms) without co-pays or deductibles and protect patients from having their coverage illegally or unfairly rescinded.

It is now a misdemeanor to impersonate someone through or on a website or by certain other electronic means to harm, intimidate, threaten or defraud another person. (I wonder if this includes the many idiots on you tube?)

TO THE PAPS: a misdemeanor to tailgate or drive recklessly to capture a photo or tape recording of someone for commercial purposes. See Keith Urban, Nicole Richie and Halle Berry.
Now, a funny one, misdemeanor to enter an animal enclosure at a zoo, circus, aquarium or traveling animal exhibit without permission. (Yes, There are people that actually do this.)

There are more to come in another post. Don't want to bore you all too much. As always, if you don't believe me here is a link. But I have retrieved these laws and their prospective California Code numbers from the California Bar website.

Personal Opinion: I think it is a bit annoying that Gov. Schwarzenegger  had time and energy to sign  new 747 bills into law last year, while lawmakers were struggling with budget woes and more than 2 million Californians unemployed. But who am I? A mire mortal none the less. Hope you found this informative.